That Mary would be taken as a wife was an unquestioned expectation. It was a decision-making process that began long before her consciousness of it. Mary was part of an extended family all living together in attached dwellings. Mary’s whole family would have been involved in the considerations of who would be an appropriate husband. … Continue reading “Mary and Joseph”
Tag: Joseph
Holy Families
The Feast of the Holy Family is celebrated with a Gospel message of unity. Mary and Joseph together with their newborn babe have journeyed to the Temple. They have come to give thanks for their child, Jesus. It is one of the few Gospel descriptions with all three together in one story. There, they are … Continue reading “Holy Families”
Spectrum of Learning: Illuminate
Joseph lives in the shadows of the Gospel with Matthew alone shining any light upon him. That light first comes in the form of Joseph’s genealogy which is helpful in providing Jesus some credibility with Matthew’s Jewish readers. The second time and the focus of this Sunday’s Gospel, Matthew shines a light on Joseph to … Continue reading “Spectrum of Learning: Illuminate”
Presentations
Included in this Sunday’s Gospel are the stories of Simeon and Anna. They are both prophets who happily receive Jesus and present prayers of thanksgiving in response. Simeon and Anna are just a few of the many common people who are drawn from the background to the foreground in the Gospel. The Gospel’s habit of … Continue reading “Presentations”
Strong and Weak
The Magi seek one they believe is born to wisdom. They are strong in their conviction, travelling possibly thousands of miles to find the child. They are therefore also strong physically to make the journey and strong emotionally to keep at it. Being strong they are not deterred by a weak King, Herod, who is … Continue reading “Strong and Weak”