They saw the Child "with His Mother"

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

It is significant to me that as we listen to the Gospel Reading for today’s Feast of Epiphany we hear of the Magi:

…they saw the child with Mary His Mother.

Wise men (and women) still seek Him today, and I believe He is ready to be found by those who ask, seek and knock, for Jesus assures us: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Mt. 7: 7-11). I believe also as the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us:

CCC 971 “All generations will call me blessed”: "The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship. The Church rightly honors “the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of ‘Mother of God,’ to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs… This very special devotion … differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration.” The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an “epitome of the whole Gospel,” express this devotion to the Virgin Mary.

Blessed Feast of the Epiphany today to all!

 

[Dorothy]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

It is significant to me that as we listen to the Gospel Reading for today’s Feast of Epiphany we hear of the Magi:

Wise men (and women) still seek Him today, and I believe He is ready to be found by those who ask, seek and knock, for Jesus assures us: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Mt. 7: 7-11). I believe also as the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us:

Blessed Feast of the Epiphany today to all!

And a blessed Feast of the Epiphany to you as well!

This morning as I was pondering today’s Gospel, what jumped out at me was that when the Magi arrived Scripture says “they saw the child with Mary his mother.”

St. Joseph was present as well, so I presume a special message that they “saw” the child with Mary his mother says to me that perhaps they became aware, by a gift of grace, of the special relationship of Jesus and Mary.

Maybe that is just me seeing that.

St. Joseph…What a model of humility!

Dorothy

 

[MariaChristi]

And a blessed Feast of the Epiphany to you as well!

This morning as I was pondering today’s Gospel, what jumped out at me was that when the Magi arrived Scripture says “they saw the child with Mary his mother.”

St. Joseph was present as well, so I presume a special message that they “saw” the child with Mary his mother says to me that perhaps they became aware, by a gift of grace, of the special relationship of Jesus and Mary.

Maybe that is just me seeing that.

St. Joseph…What a model of humility!

Dorothy

Dear Dorothy,

Thanks for your reply. If you have read the three volumes of Jesus of Nazareth by Pope Benedict XVI, you may remember in Vol. 3, The Infancy Narratives the Pope takes note of the fact that Matthew does not mention St. Joseph in the account of the Magi’s visit. It is a “mystery” as to why, although people have given differing opinions.

Your own thought that St. Joseph was given the Holy Spirit’s gift of wisdom to know how very special the relationship was between Jesus and Mary is valid. Volume 3 gives beautiful descriptions of St. Joseph as the Pope prayed over the early chapters of Luke and wrote about him. Pope Benedict’s baptismal name is Joseph. Both St. Joseph and our dear Joseph Ratzinger now Pope Emeritus are to me very, very humble and holy men of God.

 

[eatpraylove11]

Remember,
O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that any one who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help or sought thy intercession,
was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence,
I fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins my Mother;
to thee do I come,
before thee I stand,
sinful and sorrowful;
O Mother of thy Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in thy clemency hear and answer me.
Amen

Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with Thee;
Blessed art thou among women,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

 

[Dorothy]

Dear Dorothy,

Thanks for your reply. If you have read the three volumes of Jesus of Nazareth by Pope Benedict XVI, you may remember in Vol. 3, The Infancy Narratives the Pope takes note of the fact that Matthew does not mention St. Joseph in the account of the Magi’s visit. It is a “mystery” as to why, although people have given differing opinions.

Your own thought that St. Joseph was given the Holy Spirit’s gift of wisdom to know how very special the relationship was between Jesus and Mary is valid. Volume 3 gives beautiful descriptions of St. Joseph as the Pope prayed over the early chapters of Luke and wrote about him. Pope Benedict’s baptismal name is Joseph. Both St. Joseph and our dear Joseph Ratzinger now Pope Emeritus are to me very, very humble and holy men of God.

Thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut. I do have “The Infancy Narratives”, and I should read it again. Pope Benedict’s insights into scripture are very deep, as scripture has so many depths of meaning.

Yes, I did assume St. Joseph was there, but in any case the point I was trying to make was that the Magi may have been given the grace to “see” the specialness of the relationship between our Blessed Mother and the Infant.

Peace,

Dorothy P.S. I used the word “they” in my message, and thought it was clear that I was referring to
the Magi. I should have worded it better.

 

[MariaChristi]

Thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut. I do have “The Infancy Narratives”, and I should read it again. Pope Benedict’s insights into scripture are very deep, as scripture has so many depths of meaning.

Yes, I did assume St. Joseph was there, but in any case the point I was trying to make was that the Magi may have been given the grace to “see” the specialness of the relationship between our Blessed Mother and the Infant.

Peace,

Dorothy P.S. I used the word “they” in my message, and thought it was clear that I was referring to the Magi. I should have worded it better.

Dear Dorothy,

I think I read it too quickly. I guess, I was thinking that you meant by Joseph’s not being there, the Magi would see a more special relationship between Mother and Child. The implication seemed to be that St. Joseph was so humble he absented himself.

The point that I was trying to make was it is a “mystery” why St. Joseph is not mentioned in the inspired Word of God. Your point that the Magi might see a more special relationship if Joseph was not that may be true. St. Joseph certainly knew there was a special relationship because the angel had told him in a dream not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife because the Child was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I think it was my fault rather than yours. I re-read the *Infancy Narratives *this Advent. I am always blessed by the writing of Pope Emeritus.

 

[MariaChristi]

Remember,
O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that any one who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help or sought thy intercession,
was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence,
I fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins my Mother;
to thee do I come,
before thee I stand,
sinful and sorrowful;
O Mother of thy Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in thy clemency hear and answer me.
Amen

Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with Thee;
Blessed art thou among women,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Thanks for your prayers, dear eatpraylove!

 

[Dorothy]

Dear Dorothy,

I think I read it too quickly. I guess, I was thinking that you meant by Joseph’s not being there, the Magi would see a more special relationship between Mother and Child. The implication seemed to be that St. Joseph was so humble he absented himself.

The point that I was trying to make was it is a “mystery” why St. Joseph is not mentioned in the inspired Word of God. Your point that the Magi might see a more special relationship if Joseph was not that may be true. St. Joseph certainly knew there was a special relationship because the angel had told him in a dream not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife because the Child was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I think it was my fault rather than yours. I re-read the *Infancy Narratives *this Advent. I am always blessed by the writing of Pope Emeritus.

No problem about misunderstanding. It can be quite difficult to communicate precisely in this media.

Now, I am going to brush the dust off my book about the “Infancy Narratives” and read it again soon!

Peace,

Dorothy