It is interesting that after the long genealogy Matthew provided in his Gospel, followed by the somewhat detailed account of the angel appearing to Joseph in a dream, there is only one short verse about the actual birth of Jesus: “He had no relations with her until she bore a son and he named Him Jesus.” (Matthew 1:25) While Matthew did tell us this child would be Emmanuel, he gave no other details besides that Mary bore Him as a virgin; there is nothing about their journey to Bethlehem or why these Galileans would need to go there. However, Matthew did provide quite a bit of detail about what happened after Jesus’ birth, including the events involving the Magi. As is true of all the Gospel writers, what Matthew chose to recount has much deeper meaning than we see at first glance. Everything that is in the birth narrative is included for a reason, and that which is seemingly absent is also intentional. Therefore, we need to take the time to let those verses speak to us in order to let them reveal the deeper insights intended by the evangelist.

​Not only does Jesus' genealogy appear before the one verse pertaining to His birth, but it begins the entire Gospel. Rather than ignoring the genealogy as superfluous, we should regard it as more than just a list of names and seek to discover what messages it contains. Matthew wanted the faithful to understand that Joseph was of David’s line, thus fulfilling what had been promised by God. But it is also true that each and every person in this lineage had an important role, much of which is accessible through study of the Old Testament.* It is important to pray and reflect over the fact that from the beginning God had chosen this time in history, and these people, to make His entrance into the world. Perhaps this was part of what Joseph and Mary pondered as they prayed about their own roles in God’s plan. It certainly would be a cause of wonder and awe for them, and it is something that ought to evoke wonder, awe, and praise in us as we come before the Father in prayer during this season.

Matthew detailed the journey of the Magi who arrived after Jesus’ birth with gifts fit for a prophet, priest, and king, having finally discovered Him in a ‘borrowed’ stable with parents who were humble, materially poor people. As strange as this may have seemed, they trusted He was the one for whom they had searched, paying homage with joy. The story reveals that all who show up at the manger, especially the ‘unlikely ones,’ are invited to come to Jesus. In this case, none of these men were Jews; they were “from the east,” perhaps Zoroastrians.** And though they were foreigners, we can ascertain their level of belief: not only did they make this daring journey, (perhaps a time of conversion), but God knew their faith was deep enough that He could send an angel to them in the same way as to Joseph, warning them to return home by another route so as to avoid Herod. When we look beyond the surface, we do not see foreigners, pagans, or strangers, but rather, sojourners who ultimately responded to God’s call, made an arduous journey, and finally found Him in the manger.

Luke provided some different insights to ponder. Instead of the Magi, he wrote of shepherds who arrived at the stable to greet the newborn Messiah. Shepherds were considered the lowliest of Jews since they could not leave their flocks to go the Temple for prescribed worship. Living in the fields with their flocks, they probably smelled just like them, too, but in going to the stable, how they smelled was of no consequence to Mary or Joseph who joyfully welcomed them (and who were already used to the animals whose space they shared). How easy it would be to judge the shepherds unworthy of attending so holy a scene! And yet, they were the first ones to whom angels announced this blessed event and they responded unselfconsciously. Also unselfconsciously, Mary and Joseph, too poor to give birth to a baby in a ‘proper’ place, were later able to enter the Temple and present Jesus for circumcision, doing as the Law prescribed, obedient and filled with joy. Perhaps there were those there who judged them, but not Simeon or Anna, each of whom welcomed them with similar joy and praise of God.

It is good to ponder all these scenes during the Christmas season that we might allow our own hearts to be expanded. We are invited to ponder along with Matthew and Luke, Mary and Joseph. The insights contained in each event never cease to be relevant, and are especially so during the time in which we now live. Believers today are similarly judged (and are tempted to judge); and as in times of old, we are pressured into conforming to the secular culture and its values. Praying with these verses can inspire us, through the power of grace, to recognize and rise above the pressures, instead seeking Jesus in the manger with the joy and reverence of the Magi and shepherds. As prophesied, found there is “… a little Child to guide them.” The Baby born in Bethlehem is the Prince of Peace, Lord of Lords and King of Kings. (Isaiah 11:6; Isaiah 9:5; Revelation 17:14) Come let us adore!

​May we conform our hearts to that of the newborn baby Jesus that we might overcome the temptation to judge, and instead reach out to those who are outcast, to love those unlike ourselves, opening our hearts to strangers, aliens, widows, orphans, and the poor among us! And may we unselfconsciously accept the invitation of God to go to the manger and keep Him company! Let us meet with all our brothers and sisters throughout the season at the manger where Jesus lies! Peace!

                                  ©Michele L Catanese

Note: Another type of 'birth account’ is found in the Prologue of John’s Gospel. (John 1:1-18) It is deeply theological, but it is also immensely important and infinitely sublime; it is proclaimed at the “Mass During the Day” on December 25. For me, the climax is in this verse: “And the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us, and we saw His glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) I had to mention this since these verses are my favorite in regard to His birth since they reveal who Jesus is.
* Of course, this meant that Jesus was of the line of David as legal son of Joseph​. ~ Matthew set up the genealogy with a brilliant structure that contains great symbolism: he pointed out at the end of the list that "the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah, fourteen generations.” (Matthew 1:17) That is, this is not a complete list of the ancestors of Jesus, but rather Matthew was emphasizing God’s plan and His promises beginning with Abraham and especially that which was made to David. Jesus is the fulfillment of all God’s promises and He is the fulfillment of the Law. ~ Since genealogies are by definition and tradition lists of firstborn males, this one included some rather unexpected people, that is, women: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, “the wife of Uriah” (Bathsheba), and Mary. When Joseph is named at the end of the list, he is referred to as Joseph, the husband of Mary; "Of her is born Jesus who is called the Messiah.” (Matthew 1:16) Even though this is about the male ancestry of Jesus, notice that Mary is preeminent: Joseph is described as the husband of Mary, rightfully giving her central importance, emphasizing that of her was born Jesus.
** We know little about the Magi except that there were no less than three, but probably more, that they were astrologers, they were men of faith, and they seem to have come from Persia. The dominant religion in Persia at the time was Zoroastrianism, hence there is a high probability that this was their religion.

Images:
1. My photo; icon of Joseph and Jesus on the wall of the Church of St. Joseph in Nazareth, Israel.
2. My photo; "glowing" trees. This photo was taken near Schulenberg, TX and is unaltered. It was a trick of the light that made the trees in this vineyard seem to glow.
3. The front of a Christmas card depicting the Magi and star. I had sent this card to my friends many years ago, and saved the front of one of the cards for myself. 
4. The front of a Christmas card depicting shepherds in the fields reacting with joy to the message of the angels. (As above, this was a card I once sent.)
5. My photo; a creche in a massive display inside a church in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
6. Image; The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. To purchase a copy this can be found at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-nativity-of-our-lord-jesus-christ-034-william-hart-mcnichols.html
​
Note: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time. 

Influenced by a society that struggles with patience, and during a time of year when there are many things to do, Advent is a greater gift than we may realize. This is because during this season we are invited into something we are often loathe to do, which is to wait. Yet it is in this waiting that the heart of Advent lies, offering a graced opportunity to come away from the noise to find a place of quiet. When we enter into Advent reflection God offers grace so that we can make peace with the waiting, keeping it focused on expectancy and anticipation rather than the temptations of anxiety and emptiness. Indeed, our lives are busy with preparations of every kind, and yet, here is the invitation to enter into waiting peacefully. This is one of Advent’s gifts: the opportunity to be attentive to the Scriptures we hear proclaimed during worship, (for reflection upon them), that we might intentionally begin each day looking for ways to enter into hopeful anticipation of the coming of Jesus who comes with “healing in His wings.” (paraphrase of Malachi 4:2)*

Often, however, we miss out on another wonderful pathway simply because we do not pay attention to it: the prayers that our worship provides which are unique to the season and which offer a gateway into meditation on its mysteries. Let us begin with the Sunday Scriptures of this second half of Advent in which the aspect of waiting with hope is intensified. ** The Gospel for the third Sunday, (Gaudete Sunday), focuses on the baby who once leapt, John, now the baptizer, the Forerunner of Jesus. This Gospel event takes place long after the birth of Jesus, but it could not be more in keeping with the message of Advent: “Now the people were filled with expectation and all were asking in their heart whether John might be the Christ.” (Luke 3:10-18) At this point in the Gospel, Jesus is about to begin the mission for which He came, and John is pointing the way to Him. His example and ministry remain relevant in our lives as we are called to point the way to Christ for others, too. On the fourth Sunday the Gospel tells of Mary traveling to the hill country to visit Elizabeth. (Luke 1:39-45) *** When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, she cried aloud that the child in her womb (John) leapt for joy. Like Elizabeth, we are also invited into hearing the greeting of Mary pregnant with Jesus; it is a cause for joy to realize that what (or Who) we hope for is ‘on the way’ and is in fact imminent. Indeed, we know that our present waiting will come to an end with the Messiah’s return. Reflecting prayerfully upon this Gospel passage can be a way to open ourselves to this joy, to letting the Lord sweep out all that might have accumulated in our hearts in order to make room for Jesus to enter in.

The Advent Preface prayers offered by the priest at the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist at Mass are also excellent offerings for meditation and prayer. In the first two weeks he prays: “that… we who watch for that day may inherit the great promise in which now we dare to hope.” We are reminded to be watchful, that is, attentive and spiritually prepared, for God’s promise to be fulfilled. A watchful disposition is surely daring because this kind of hope is founded on our trust in God who has never left a promise unfulfilled. Indeed, it is freeing. In the 3rd and 4th weeks there are three lines in the Preface prayer to note. The first is that “the prophets foretold Him,” a reminder which helps to keep us attentive to the message within the Old Testament readings of the liturgy. Next is this line: “… the Virgin Mother longed for Him with love beyond all telling.” Mary’s longing should be ours, too. If we spend time with her, we can accept her invitation into the love she has for her Son which is beyond any description or expression; we can enter into this incredibly intimate experience with her. And finally: “John the Baptist sang of His coming and proclaimed His presence when He came.” We so often think of John as with fiery, wild-eyed persona, in his rough clothes and with hair and beard unkempt; therefore, to think of him singing is almost jarring, and wonderfully so. This image shows the real John, he of heart burning with love, hope, and joy… yes, joy. How could John the Baptist proclaim Jesus’ presence without joy? It is simply impossible that he would know Jesus from the womb and have lost the ability to still leap at His presence.

My suggestion for the remainder of Advent is to enter into these Scripture passages and especially these lines of the Preface prayers. Try to imagine and reflect prayerfully upon Mary and Elizabeth, pregnant and waiting for the day their sons enter the world; join Mary while she is in silent prayer while experiencing love beyond all telling; imagine John leaping in his mother’s womb and then 30 years later leaping again while in song, joyful that the Holy One is about to make Himself known. That which they had hoped for was nigh, and that which we hope for is, too: the Lord is coming again. In our hope-filled waiting let us remember that we do not hope in something, but in Someone who is nothing less than the Son of God, one who comes as Malachi foretold: “…the sun of Justice will arise with healing in its wings.” 

May we take the time to prayerfully reflect upon the Scriptures and prayers of Advent liturgy! May our hearts leap with joy at His coming! And may we persevere in our efforts to make a place for Him in the manger of our heart! Peace! Marana tha! Come!

​                        ©Michele L. Catanese

* In some Bibles the Book of Malachi is divided into three chapters, and therefore, in the New American Bible Revised Edition this verse is Malachi 3:20. In the Revised Standard Bible, Catholic Version, as well as many other Bible translations, Malachi is divided into 4 chapters; in those versions this verse is Malachi 4:2.

** Here are some passages from Isaiah that are in the liturgies during Advent this year: “He shall judge between the nations …. They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation…” (Is. 2:1-4) “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid…. and a little child shall lead them…. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain.” (Is. 11:1-9)  
“Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him…. let us be glad and rejoice in His salvation” (Is. 25:9) “You shall weep no more….” (Is. 30:18-19) “Comfort, comfort my people…. Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion herald of good tidings… Lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings!... Behold your God!” (Is. 40:1-11) And finally “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Emmanuel.” (Is. 7:14) Of course there are so many more, such as Isaiah 9 and 12. (The translation I have used is the RSV, Catholic version.)
By the end of Advent, we will have heard from Isaiah on 10 occasions through a combination of readings at daily and Sunday Masses. It is breath-taking that Isaiah was prophesying something he would never live to see, and therefore something he really could not have fully understood. – The reality of what actually happened is almost too marvelous even for those of us who have lived after Jesus came. Imagine, The Almighty choosing to become a vulnerable baby in a poor family! That is rather astonishing, if you really think about it. 

*** Gaudete means "Rejoice." I also want to give perspective to something which can go unnoticed unless one has been to the Holy Land: Mary’s trip from Nazareth to ‘the hill country,’ that is, the village of Ein Karem where Elizabeth lived, was not a short one. Ein Karem is almost all the way to Jerusalem, (and not that much further from there is Bethlehem). Thus, the pregnant Mary must have rejoiced at arriving at her destination both because she had finally arrived after an arduous journey and because she could be present with her cousin. A thought to ponder!

Images:
1. Icon; Mother of the Incarnate Word, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. If you are interested in purchasing a copy, this image can be found at  https://fineartamerica.com/featured/mother-of-the-incarnate-word-071-william-hart-mcnichols.html
2. My photo; rolling hills in the Holy Land.
3. Painting; St. John the Baptist, by Leonardo da Vinci. It was the smile of John the Baptist that drew me in; perhaps he had just leapt for joy?
4. My photo; sun over the water at Grand Cayman; the water photo may seem an odd one here, but it is the ‘sun of Justice’ reference that is intended.
5. Clip art; Advent Candles, Week 3, (when Gaudete rose candle is lit).

Note: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time. 

One of the most memorable books I read as a child was a delightful story about a little train that was given a seemingly insurmountable route, having to crest a hill that seemed way beyond its ability. As the little train contemplated the hill, it began to repeat: “I think I can, I think I can.” Sure enough, as the little train strained and struggled, it conquered its fears and the hill, leading to a newfound confidence. The lesson taught by this story was impactful given the positive approach to not giving up on a difficult task.* Of course, with age and maturity it becomes obvious that things are often not that simple; reciting an encouraging ‘mantra’ is helpful, but in truth, it takes more than this to accomplish tasks, especially in regard to the spiritual life. Our Christian faith teaches that with God all things are possible, and if we do not put our trust in Him, that which we could have done together can truly be insurmountable. Therefore, in our preparation for the beginning of Advent, it is important to enter into the stories of Mary and Joseph which challenge us to go beyond the temptation to only approach situations with positive thinking. Individually and together, they made the all-important choice that took them beyond willful thinking: they relied totally on God. In their love for Him, they turned to the Lord for strength as well as for discernment, and therefore they were able to proceed in trust and with peace. 

In his Gospel, Luke made it evident that Mary trusted completely when the angel assured her, “Nothing is impossible for God.” (Luke 1:37) However, the role of Joseph in the coming of the Messiah is nothing short of breathtaking when you consider that when Mary told him she was pregnant, he had not yet had the benefit of an angel to explain things. Although the Gospels do not say it, we can be sure that as bewildered as Joseph may have been, he immediately turned to God in prayer. We can safely assume this because his holiness and closeness to God are probably why God chose him for this role in the first place. The best insight into this is found in Matthew’s Gospel in which Joseph is described as “a righteous man.” (Matthew 1:19) To be described as righteous indicates a life of holiness which was lived in total reliance on God; the righteous one possessed the graces of discernment, justice, and mercy. Also indicative of his righteousness is that his first thoughts were not of himself, but rather they were of Mary: Joseph “was unwilling to expose her to shame” and so he decided to divorce her quietly, and thus, to entrust her into God’s hands. He must have struggled mightily over this since he already loved her and knew she was pure and holy, without guile or pretense. The narrative goes on to reveal that after Joseph had prayerfully decided to divorce Mary, the same angel (presumably) that came to her visited him in a dream. The angel explained the situation, and so he obediently and confidently took her into his home, enabling the Incarnation of Jesus Emmanuel. And while Joseph was not without sin or immaculate like Mary, he shared with her the two essential traits which are the foundation of love and holiness: thinking of what is best for other rather than of themselves, and total reliance upon God. 

A suggestion as we begin Advent is to focus our reflection on Joseph and the traits he displayed.** We can let him inspire us to turn to God with trust more readily than perhaps we do now, and as our relationship deepens, we can seek to grow in grace and virtue. We can reflect upon how to become more selfless, to develop this as a habitual way of living. As with Joseph, being a righteous person means learning to mix humility with bold confidence. In other words, humility comes from our recognition that graces do not come from our own power, but rather, that everything comes from God; confidence comes from utilizing the very grace and power He gives. It is important to recognize that while positive thinking helps, if our focus is only on self, (that is, we will ourselves to do something thinking the hoped-for result is from our own power), we will not be successful in growing in holiness, and will often end up disappointed instead. 

During Advent, Joseph can enrich our journey toward the stable with Mary.*** Joseph, (like Mary), teaches us that God is always with us and there is nothing which He cannot do in order to accomplish His plan. Joseph helps us to realize that often the struggle or suffering we experience is part of our path to holiness and therefore has great value. He also encourages us to keep our eyes and ears open for the presence of God who often comes in unexpected ways. He teaches perseverance: when faced with a seemingly impossible situation or when praying for something that seems like it never seems to budge, we must continue to trust God’s wisdom concerning that which we do not understand. Finally, Joseph can be our model of selflessness, which includes humility before God who must always be first in our lives. St. Joseph the righteous one knew that only with total reliance on God would he be able to humbly live his call. Indeed, he embraced it with all his heart.

May we pray for the intercession of St. Joseph during our Advent journey! May we take the time to reflect on the ways St. Joseph lived as a righteous man and ask the Holy Spirit help our growth in virtue! And may we savor every moment of Advent so that the graces God wishes to impart may truly be received! Let us meet on the road to Bethlehem! Peace! Marana tha! Come O Lord! 

​                              © Michele L. Catanese

 * The Little Train That Could by Watty Piper, first published in 1930 and still available at some bookstores.
** The birth narratives do not contain much on St. Joseph, or even Mary for that matter. However, what is there is more than enough to pray and meditate with for a lifetime. In Matthew’s Gospel, Joseph is present in chapter 1 and 2. Chapter 1 concerns everything through the birth of Jesus, and while it is outside the scope of Advent, we can learn more about Joseph in Matthew 2:13-15 and then 2:19-22 since these give us more insight into the obedience of Joseph when the angel comes to him again via his dreams. (Also, the genealogy that appears at the beginning of chapter 1 offers often overlooked insights into Joseph; he descended from the line of David, just as God said the father of the Messiah would.) After this, Joseph is no longer mentioned. In his Gospel, Luke offers the birth narrative by highlighting Mary in chapters 1 and 2; in these chapters the name of Joseph only appears twice! 
*** A good exercise might be in reflecting upon what Joseph’s reaction may have been when Mary departed immediately after their discussion to go to the hill country (to help Elizabeth); what might he have experienced of ‘Advent waiting’ while she was gone? We can meditate and pray over what those nine months of Mary’s pregnancy were like for Joseph, and so on.

Images:
1. My photo; train in Norway.
2. My photo; statue of Mary pregnant with Jesus which I saw in a church in Puerto Rico during Advent.
3. Image; St. Joseph Mirror of Patience by Fr. William Hart McNichols. This is a good time of year to purchase Advent images and icons  for prayer and to share. You can find this one at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/st-joseph-mirror-of-patience-334-william-hart-mcnichols.html
(Remember, I do not receive anything from endorsing the work of Fr. Bill except through knowing I have "shared the wealth" of the beauty of his work!)
4. My photo; trail in Big Bend National Park; Big Bend Texas
5. Image; San Jose Flor de Jese, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. Note as above; you can find this at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/san-jose-flor-de-jese-323-william-hart-mcnichols.html
6. Clip art; Advent wreath for the first week of the season.

Note: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time.