✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.
Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke
Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,
and when he was twelve years old,
they went up according to festival custom.
After they had completed its days, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem,
but his parents did not know it.
Thinking that he was in the caravan,
they journeyed for a day
and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
but not finding him,
they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions,
and all who heard him were astounded
at his understanding and his answers.
When his parents saw him,
they were astonished,
and his mother said to him,
“Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
And he said to them,
“Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
But they did not understand what he said to them.
He went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was obedient to them.
Joseph must have been a very great man. He discovers Mary to be pregnant and had planned to divorce her quietly. On the strength of an Angel appearing in a dream, Joseph reverses his decision and chooses to stay with Mary and bring up Jesus as his son and accept Mary as his wife. I have that throughout the Gospels, the concept of a traditional family is constamntly questioened. Joseph and Mary were anything but traditional parents. Then when you looked at the way Jesus collected his apostles and disciples, it was in no way protecting the idea of a traditional family. Jesus would get young people in the eight of their usefulmness and drag them away from their families to follow him. For all those people who feel family is the highest value, it certainly isn’t consistent with Christ’s actions. Indeed, Christ palces God above all else. Following the call of Christ is more important than allegiance to family. In Matthew 10:34-39, Jesus says:
ReplyDelete"Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's foes will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me."
Joseph is the ultimate example of a man who places God first. He is an inspiration to all fathers.
Your response to Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a offers interesting observations about family, tradition, and following Christ:
DeleteJoseph's Sacrifice: You highlight Joseph's willingness to accept Mary and raise Jesus despite unusual circumstances, demonstrating his faith and devotion.
Challenging Traditional Family Structures: You identify how the stories of Jesus' birth and his discipleship challenge traditional family structures. This aligns with interpretations that view Jesus emphasizing a broader spiritual family over biological ties.
God Above All Else: You rightly point out that Jesus prioritizes following God's will above earthly attachments, including family. This resonates with the message of Matthew 10:34-39, where Jesus emphasizes his teachings over familial bonds.
Joseph as an Inspiration: You hold Joseph up as an example of putting God first, offering inspiration to fathers.
Here are some additional thoughts for consideration:
Family in the Bible: The Bible presents diverse perspectives on family. While some passages emphasize following Christ over family, others highlight the importance of honoring parents (Exodus 20:12). Finding a balance between these themes is an ongoing challenge.
Meaning of "Following Christ": Interpretations of "following Christ" vary. For some, it might involve leaving one's family behind, while for others, it might involve living out Christian values within the context of family life.
Respecting Diversity: People have diverse family structures and values. Following Christ might look different for someone with a traditional family than for someone who doesn't.
Overall, your response demonstrates thoughtful engagement with the text and raises important questions about faith, family, and individual calling. Keep exploring the complexities of these themes, respect diverse perspectives, and consider how following Christ can be integrated into your own life and relationships