Word to the Wise
Friday, December 18, 2020 - December 18
[Jer 23:5-8 and Matt 1:18-24]Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David.....[Jeremiah] "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." [Matthew]
DECEMBER 18 - COUNTDOWN DAY
Scripture scholars tell us that the "infancy narratives" in the Gospels According to Matthew and Luke were composed last and in the light of stories of Jesus' life, death and resurrection. The Gospel According to Matthew was written for Christians of predominantly Jewish origin, who would have been at least familiar with the prophecies concerning a messiah and the broad history that went back to Abraham and David, as we saw in the genealogy yesterday. This may explain the emphasis on Joseph, whose lineage included David! Mary does not figure as prominently as she does in the Gospel According to Luke. The "annunciation" in Matthew is to Joseph, not to Mary, as in Luke! But descent from David on the part of Joseph is the reason Luke gives for the trip to Bethlehem, known as the "city of David." The two evangelists were working from different traditions about Jesus' origins some 50 to 70 years after Jesus' death and resurrection! Matthew would be concerned with emphasizing the Jewish aspects of Jesus in his portrait.
The role of Joseph has gradually given rise to considerable reflection and inspiration. The enormous basilica in Montreal, dedicated to St. Joseph, is the product of the efforts of a Holy Cross brother, St. Andre Besette, who was devoted to Joseph. Pope Francis has recently declared a Year of St. Joseph, who was declared long ago the Patron Saint of the Universal Church. Pope John XXIII added Joseph's name to the one Eucharistic Prayer in existence for the Roman rite at the time. The figure of Joseph as a model for Christian fathers has given rise to more than one movement promoting positive fatherhood in Catholic families. All of this is pretty big stuff for a humble carpenter from Nazareth, who drops completely out of sight in the gospels after the incident of Jesus being lost and found! However, this does remind us that it wasn't just Mary's consent, but Joseph's as well that were part of God's plan. The birth of a baby tends to focus on Mom and Baby and the dad has traditionally been relegated to giving out cigars. The nativity scene includes Joseph and he is worthy of our reflection in this season! AMEN