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Whoever preaches with love preaches sufficiently against heresy, though he may never utter a controversial word.
- François de Sales (1567-1622)
(Old saying: "preach the Gospel to all
creatures, and use words if necessary")
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JER 23:5-8; PS 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19
MT 1:18-25
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the
angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
"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.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill
what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means "God is with us."
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
He had no relations with her until she bore a son,
and he named him Jesus. USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture |
"When His mother Mary was engaged to
Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the power of the Holy Spirit." —Matthew 1:18
Joseph knew His wife was pregnant by someone other than him. The only possibility seemed to be that Mary was an adulteress. Yet in a dream, an angel told Joseph that Mary had conceived by the Holy Spirit (Mt 1:20).
Would you believe this miracle? Would you believe something that had never happened before? Would you believe something that you didn't and couldn't understand? Would you believe something from a dream? When Joseph believed in the virgin conception, he made one of the greatest acts of faith ever. If he had not made this great act of faith, he would not have been at the first Christmas.
If we are to meet Christ this Christmas, we must have faith, as Joseph had faith. A true Christmas is a matter of faith. We walk and live by faith (see 2 Cor 5:7), and we have Christmas by faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please God this Christmas or any time (Heb 11:6), and the purpose of Christmas is to please Christ. After all, it is His
birthday celebration.
Very few people were aware of the first Christmas, even though a star announcing Jesus' birth blazed across the sky (Mt 2:2). At this Christmas, the few or many who will meet Christ shall be men and women of faith, people like St. Joseph. Have faith in the Christ of
Christmas.
Prayer: Father, through Your Word may I hear You and have faith in You (Rm 10:17).
Promise: "He shall rescue the poor man when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him." —Ps 72:12
Presentation Ministries
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From Meditation to Contemplation, by James Arraj - Reprinted from St. John of the Cross and Dr. C. G. Jung.
The meaning of the three signs (of the onset of contemplation)
Since the first sign might result from lukewarmness, neglect or sin, the second sign is used as a safeguard, and since the
first and second signs might be the result of some illness or general weakness where the soul has no desire for anything, the third sign is brought forth. The third is the most vital sign, for it is that of contemplation itself. Since the recipient is still addicted to sense perception, this new knowledge is too different and subtle to be readily perceptible. However, it will soon become so: “But the more habituated he becomes to this calm, the deeper his experience of the general, loving
knowledge of God will grow. This knowledge is more enjoyable than all other things, because without the soul’s labor it affords peace, rest, savor, and delight.”(“Ascent of Mt. Carmel,” 2, 13, 7) The actual beginning of this infused contemplation is the crucial sign, for without it the soul would be leaving meditation without something better taking its place: “If a man did not have this knowledge or attentiveness to God, he would, as a consequence, be neither doing anything nor receiving
anything. Having left the discursive meditation of the sensitive faculties and still lacking contemplation (the general knowledge in which the spiritual faculties - memory, intellect, and will - are actuated and united in this passive, prepared knowledge), he would have no activity whatsoever relative to God.”(“Ascent of Mt. Carmel,” 2, 14, 6)
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