"Do not be afraid..."

[MariaChristi]

December 18

Commentary of the day
Saint Bernard (1091-1153), Cistercian monk and doctor of the Church
Homilies on the « Missus est » no. 2, 13-15 (trans. St Mary’s Community, York)
“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home”

“Joseph, her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly" (Mt 1,19). Truly, because he was just, he would not expose her to shame; for as he would not have been just had he countenanced one that was guilty, neither would he have been just if he had condemned one whose innocence had been proved. Since, then, he was just and unwilling to expose her, why had he a mind to divorce her? I give you on this point not my own opinion, but that of the Fathers: Joseph’s reason was the same as Peter’s when he said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord," (Lk 5,8) and that of the centurion when he exclaimed, “I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof" (Mt 8,8).

Joseph looked on himself as a sinner and as unworthy to entertain one in whom he beheld a superhuman dignity. He beheld with awe in the Virgin-Mother a certain sign of the Divine Presence, and as he could not penetrate the mystery, he wished to divorce her. Saint Peter was struck with awe at the greatness of Christ’s power; the centurion by the majesty of Christ’s presence; and Joseph was naturally afraid at the novelty and splendor of the miracle and the depth of the mystery. We need not wonder that Joseph thought himself unworthy of the society of such a Virgin when we hear Saint Elizabeth exclaim with fear and trembling: “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Lk 1,43)…

But why divorce her secretly? So that people might not seek out the reason for their separation or come to demand an explanation. What could this just man have replied to… people always ready to dispute? If he had concealed his thoughts, if he had asserted his fiancée’s purity, those sceptics would have mocked him and stoned Mary… So Joseph, who wanted neither to lie nor to blame, acted rightly… But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid! What is born of her comes from the Holy Spirit.”

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

What a beautiful homily on today’s Gospel! St. Bernard helps us appreciate not only Joseph’s fears, but perhaps some of our own. Have we ever been “afraid” to take Mary into our own lives – feeling unworthy? How we ever feared we were not up to the task? Ah, how we need to open ourselves to God’s Holy Spirit and take Mary into our lives as Joseph did before the birth of Jesus, and as John did at the cross on Calvary.

 

[afthomercy]

Joseph, on finding that his fiancee Mary was “with child by the Holy Spirit”, would naturally have thought that he no longer had any right over her, since she was now espoused to another. So he must have decided to ‘fade out’ of the scene, primarily out of a sense of propriety.

Private divorce would probably mean that there was to be no announcement, but there would be a mutual understanding between the parties that it was off. That would have given Mary and her family a little bit of breathing time, but Joseph could not have been unaware that it was only a matter of time before the baby bump became all too evident. He would also have thought that if all this was God’s plan, then the fallout was not his responsibility. The least that he could do was to avoid precipitating matters by making a public announcement.

But I don’t know: In the society of that time, if a woman had a child whom her husband denied fathering, wouldn’t it automatically invite the conclusion of adultery with its attendant consequences? Joseph would never have claimed fatherhood of Jesus, so how did Mary escape the consequences of giving birth to a child whose father is not her husband?

 

[Mystical_Seeker]

But I don’t know: In the society of that time, if a woman had a child whom her husband denied fathering, wouldn’t it automatically invite the conclusion of adultery with its attendant consequences? Joseph would never have claimed fatherhood of Jesus, so how did Mary escape the consequences of giving birth to a child whose father is not her husband?

I think that would have been a great concern for most of us; I don’t know if it was for her since she didn’t have original sin.

 

[SJacob7]

I realize this is a little off topic, but I have often wondered why Mary was even going to get married if she was going to remain a virgin her entire life? Just curious.

 

[Neofight]

I realize this is a little off topic, but I have often wondered why Mary was even going to get married if she was going to remain a virgin her entire life? Just curious.

The same question is often asked about the Baptism of Jesus.

Why did he submit to Baptism if he was without sin? Christ told John, “Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.”

So, perhaps because of the central importance of the marriage and family in God’s plan for man, the marriage of the Blessed Virgin to St. Joseph was also fitting to fulfil all righteousness.

Peace and all Good!

 

[afthomercy]

I think that would have been a great concern for most of us; I don’t know if it was for her since she didn’t have original sin.

My question was, how did the conservative society of that time leave Mary alone just because she was married? Hadn’t she conceived out of wedlock? Wasn’t her husband himself saying that he had nothing to do with it? In such a situation did they even have an option to condone it?

On thinking further about it, I now surmise that the peace, grace and tranquility in her speech and demeanour would have compelled the village elders to acknowledge that something special was happening here. Also, the story of her cousin Elizabeth conceiving in her old age pursuant to a vision (today’s Gospel reading was about it) would already have caused intense wonder in her community. Hence they might have given her the benefit of the doubt. Ultimately, it would have been the hand of God that prevented the raising of rock filled hands!

 

[afthomercy]

I realize this is a little off topic, but I have often wondered why Mary was even going to get married if she was going to remain a virgin her entire life? Just curious.

I don’t think she was ever going to get married if events hadn’t overtaken her. I think in the society of that time, there was a system of consecrated virginity, where those virgins would be given in engagement to chaste older men, who were probably widowers. This arrangement was probably for their protection and status, since there wouldn’t have been the equivalent of convents then.

 

[MariaChristi]

Joseph, on finding that his fiancee Mary was “with child by the Holy Spirit”, would naturally have thought that he no longer had any right over her, since she was now espoused to another. So he must have decided to ‘fade out’ of the scene, primarily out of a sense of propriety.

Private divorce would probably mean that there was to be no announcement, but there would be a mutual understanding between the parties that it was off. That would have given Mary and her family a little bit of breathing time, but Joseph could not have been unaware that it was only a matter of time before the baby bump became all too evident. He would also have thought that if all this was God’s plan, then the fallout was not his responsibility. The least that he could do was to avoid precipitating matters by making a public announcement.

But I don’t know: In the society of that time, if a woman had a child whom her husband denied fathering, wouldn’t it automatically invite the conclusion of adultery with its attendant consequences? Joseph would never have claimed fatherhood of Jesus, so how did Mary escape the consequences of giving birth to a child whose father is not her husband?

Dear afthomercy, (and others who have read, replied to, or will read this thread)

God’s Word is mysterious. God is a Mystery we begin to understand as we grow in faith, hope and above all charity, but many things will remain mysterious until we meet Him in the Beatific Vision. Still, we are invited to be “disciples” i.e. “learners” of Jesus. How? He tells us in John 8: 31 - 32:

… “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free”

Jesus also told His disciples later in John 16: 13, on the night before He died:

When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all Truth…

By the power of the Holy Spirit God has given the Church insights into His Mysteries. I believe St. Bernard is one of those disciples who remained in the word and kept listening, praying to the Holy Spirit and receiving more and more to share with others. Yet, he says in the excerpt quoted, he is not giving his opinion. It seems to me that when we speculate we can go not only “off topic” but fall into thinking as “man” thinks and not be open to what God is saying in His word. We need the mind of Christ, to think and love as He does.

A holy priest once told me, when listening to scripture, and a question arises, keep listening until you hear what only God can tell you. It seems to me our own questions can often keep us from being free to listen. We can interrupt God while He is telling us something, instead of continuing to listen. Notice in the excerpt all the scriptures which St. Bernard gives as references in his homily. It seems to me he has prayed and studied the scripture and listened. He also apparently did some research studying the Fathers of the Church.

I would encourage all who are reading this thread to go to the passages in the scripture and listen to what God has revealed. If you go back to my OP you’ll see that my purpose in posting was to invite us all to look at our own hearts to see if we have been as receptive to God as we know St. Joseph and our Mother Mary were in their time on earth. What is God saying for us to live His Truth today?

Thanks for your reply and thanks to all the others who replied but please do take time to pray to the Holy Spirit to hear the Truth revealed in God’s Word. It is so important to continue listening to, and remaining in, God’s Word. It is so important to listen and learn Jesus to live His Life truly and carry on His Mission as Mary did.

 

[hazcompat]

ON THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY—1221-1274 A.D.
St. Bonaventure of Bagnoregio

Fom the Conferences on the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Who shall find a valiant woman? Far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her (Proverbs 31,10). This is the price of which the Apostle says: You have been bought at a great price; glorify and bear God in your body (1 Cor. 6,20)…This price had to be great to redeem the whole world and the entire human race. Hence, it was necessary that the price have a divine and human nature. Where is that price found? Nowhere but in the womb of the glorious Virgin. Thus one reads in Isaiah: Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and he shall be called Emmanuel (7,14). Emmanuel is translated: God with us. It was not fitting that a virgin should have anyone as son but God, nor for God to have as a mother anyone but a virgin. That price, then, could only be found in the Virgin. Far and from the uttermost coasts: because in Him is united highest and lowest, first with last. That price is from afar whereby the entire human race is redeemed. Because the lowest is redeemed, it is the highest price; because the last is redeemed, it is the first. Man was the last of the creatures to be made.

Whose is this price? This price by which we are able to reach the kingdom of heaven belongs to this Woman, the Blessed Virgin. It is Hers, because taken from Her, offered by Her, possessed by Her: taken from Her in the Incarnation of the Word; offered by Her in the redemption of the human race; possessed by Her in attaining the glory of Paradise. She brought forth this price, paid this price, and possesses this price.

I. She brought forth this price, namely, God and man. The Blessed Virgin did so as the valiant and holy Woman, holy with the holiness of inviolate chastity, prompt obedience and total generosity. With the holiness of inviolate chastity: A holy and modest woman is grace upon grace (Eccli. 26,19). And the Angel said: Hail! full of grace, because She was holy and chaste: holy in Her body, chaste in Her mind. The Apostle states: The unmarried woman and the virgin thinks on the things of the Lord, that she might be holy both in mind and body (1 Cor. 7,34). And Bernard writes: Gabriel was sent to a Virgin, such as one described by the Apostle, holy in mind and body, not found by chance, but chosen from eternity, foreknown by the Most High and prepared for Himself, guarded by the angels, foretold by the patriarchs, promised by the prophets. To this Virgin Gabriel was to be sent, for She alone had pleased the Most High.

II. The Blessed Virgin brought forth that price by the holiness of Her prompt obedience. As everlasting foundations upon a solid rock, so the commandments of God in the heart of a woman (Eccli. 26,24). To found the Church, it was necessary to lay a foundation, namely, the commandments of God, and to place them in the heart of some person. This could be none but the Virgin…the One who was obedient. Thus, the commandments were rooted in Her heart. Blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it (Lk. 11,28). Not only is the Virgin blessed, but all who follow Her as well. And who are these? All who hear the word of God and fulfill it.

III. The Blessed Virgin, valiant and holy, brought forth that price by the holiness of Her total generosity. Thus Gabriel said: Blessed art Thou among women…The Holy Spirit will come upon You and the power of the Most High will overshadow You. And therefore the One to be born of You holy will be called Son of God (Lk. 1,28-35). St. Augustine comments: The Holy Spirit is love, and although given with His gifts, is not a gift inseparable from any of them, except the gift of love. All the other virtues are common to the good and the bad; the love of God and neighbor is the privilege of the saints and the devout; it alone suffices. Thus Hugh of St. Victor remarks: Because the love of God uniquely burned in the mind of the Virgin, so She worked wonders in Her body. The love of charity preserves from corruption. Thus the One to be born of You, through a pure and immaculate love, will be called the Son of God. As from the love of a man and woman is born a carnal son, so from the love of the Virgin and God is born the Son of God. Whoever wishes to be holy must follow the glorious Virgin in the holiness of inviolate chastity, prompt obedience, and total generosity.

Peace

 

[MariaChristi]

ON THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY—1221-1274 A.D.
St. Bonaventure of Bagnoregio

Fom the Conferences on the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Who shall find a valiant woman? …

Dear hazcompat,

Thanks for your reply and for the excerpt from the Conferences of St. Bonaventure. I have loved those verses on the “Valiant Woman” in the book of Proverbs ever since I first read them; listening again and again makes the words more precious, each time I ponder them. St. Bonaventure of Bagnoregio helps us to see by faith the Valiant Woman Mary, holding within her womb the “great price” that was paid for all: Jesus, God Incarnate, born of her, that He could die for all of us.

It was especially beautiful to read his words for all of us who love and seek to follow her example:

…Not only is the Virgin blessed, but all who follow Her as well. And who are these? All who hear the word of God and fulfill it…

Yes, God’s Grace is so powerful that He can raise up saints who like our Mother Mary can unite themselves totally to God’s Will as He reveals Himself in His Word. By His Grace, they can truly remain in His Word as Mary did, listening to Him and doing the Truth heard from Him.

Mother of the Word, Mother of us, intercede for us, always.