“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”
18th December 2017.
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MONDAY, THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT
Reading 1: Jer 23: 5-8 Jeremiah prophesies that the Lord “will raise up a righteous shoot to David; as king he shall reign and govern wisely.
Res. Psalm: Ps 72: 1-2, 12-13, 18-19 In his days justice shall flourish, and peace until the moon fails. He will have pity on the weak and save the lives of the poor.
Gospel: Mt 1: 18-24 An angel appears to Joseph in a dream and tells him that Mary’s child has been conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is to be called “Jesus”, “Emmanuel”, “God is with us”.
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GOD DRAWS STRAIGHT WITH CROOKED LINES
God’s entrance into the lives of people often causes initial pain and distress. It had never been heard of before that a child could be born without a natural father. Mary was asked to accept this miraculous exception to the laws of nature. That required faith and trust in God and in his promises. Second, Mary was not yet married. Pregnancy outside of wedlock was not tolerated in those days. She could have been rejected by Joseph, by her family, by all her own people. Mary knew that Joseph and her family would not understand without revelation from God. What could Mary have said that would have sounded believable? Would Joseph believe that God caused her condition and the Child was divine? She nonetheless believed and trusted in God’s promises.
Joseph, no doubt took this troubling matter to God in prayer. He was not hasty to judge or to react with hurt and anger. God rewarded him not only with guidance and consolation, but with the divine assurance that he had indeed called him to be the husband of Mary and to assume a mission that would require the utmost faith, confidence, and trust in Almighty God.
When we see the crib with hovering angels, sweet Mary and strong Joseph, adoring shepherds and cuddly lambs, everything seems delightful. But think of it: pregnancy outside marriage, threat of divorce or even stoning, the shame of public opinion looming over the couple, and the impossibility of giving explanations. The coming of Jesus demanded commitment and created many hardships. For us, too, commitment to Jesus often creates confusion and pain. As Mary, we must depend on God to unravel these knots and solve our problems. Are you ready to believe in the promises of God, even when faced with perplexing circumstances and what seems like impossible problems?
Prayer: Lord, we come to know your will through the happenings of each day. Your name is Emmanuel, which means God is with us. Let us strongly be aware of your coming to us, and give us a faith to hold on to your promises. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen
