Mary and the Epiphany

[MariaChristi]

http://ocarm.org/pre09/lectio/images/a08.jpg

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

When I first saw this drawing, I wondered, "Where is St. Joseph?" and then pondering more, I answered myself, that he is humbly in the background, unseen but surely he is there.

Also in many of the Christmas cards we received, Mother and Child were often pictured alone. That is not too surprising when we consider the tremendous mystery of the Incarnation: The Word became Flesh, born of a woman; Mary's flesh and blood by the Power of the Holy Spirit gave us the Sacred Humanity of Jesus, the God-Man.

Today as we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, I'd like to share some words from an Eastern writer:

...When the blameless Virgin saw the Magi carrying in their hands the new and shining gifts, and kneeling before Him...she entreated the One who is creator and Lord of all saying, "Receive the three gifts, my child ... Save the world, Savior. For its sake you came. Establish your kingdom. For its sake you have let your light shine on me, and the Magi and all creation... (by Romanos the Melodist from Hymn I for the Birth of Christ)

May we who have received His Light, pray with Mary, especially today, for all the world.

 

[puzzleannie]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

When I first saw this drawing, I wondered, “Where is St. Joseph?” and then pondering more, I answered myself, that he is humbly in the background, unseen but surely he is there.

if the drawing was meant to illustrate the gospel which says the magi saw the child and his mother Mary, but does not mention Joseoph, it is as legitimate and accurate a depiction as can be made after the fact without any contemporary historical record other than the gospel account to go my.

 

[MariaChristi]

if the drawing was meant to illustrate the gospel which says the magi saw the child and his mother Mary, but does not mention Joseoph, it is as legitimate and accurate a depiction as can be made after the fact without any contemporary historical record other than the gospel account to go my.

Dear puzzleannie,

Thanks for your reply. Yes, it is an important verse in the Gospel for today’s Feast. I rejoiced in listening to it:

…They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother.

There is no human person closer to Jesus than His Mother. I believe that Joseph, like the Wise Men received great light in looking upon Jesus and Mary together. So must we learn to look on Jesus, with Mary. I was especially blessed in also reading the Pope’s General Audience “On the Holy Family’s Prayer”. These few sentences concerning St. Joseph have tremendous unction for me:

…Mary’s ability to live by the gaze of God is, as it were, contagious. The first to experience this was St. Joseph. His humble and sincere love for his betrothed, and the decision to unite his life to Mary’s, also attracted and introduced him who was already a “just man” (Matthew 1:19) into unique intimacy with God. In fact, with Mary – and above all, with Jesus – he enters into a new way of relating to God, of welcoming Him into his own life, of entering into His plan of salvation, by fulfilling His will. After having trustingly followed the Angel’s instructions – “do not fear to take Mary your wife” (Matthew 1:20) – he took Mary to himself and shared his life with her; he truly gave himself totally to Mary and to Jesus, and this led him toward the perfect response to the vocation he had received. (Underlining is mine.)

Full text of the Audience is HERE

 

[Eileen_T]

St Joseph was probably off somewhere doing some carpentry work to provide for the family.

 

[puzzleannie]

St Joseph was probably off somewhere doing some carpentry work to provide for the family.

unless the playoffs were on

the most notable thing about St Joseph is how little he is mentioned in the gospels, and actually Matthew has more to say about him than even Luke, especially his response to God’s instructions he receives in his dreams. that does not lessen his importance in the plan of salvation but accentuates his holiness, obedience and cultivation of the beatitudes. In fact in describing those attributes Jesus was describing his own foster father.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Eileen T and puzzleannie, and anyone else reading this thread,

If you haven’t read Bl. John Paul II’s Apostolic Exhortation “ON THE PERSON AND MISSION OF SAINT JOSEPH IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST AND OF THE CHURCH” see HERE. It is not a long document but it is well worth reading.

Thanks for your replies.