Deacon Tom Writes,
How would we answer the Lord if He asked us to, “Ask for a sign”? There are many things that I can think of right
off the top of my head, but I’m sure that anything I could possibly imagine
would fall far short of what Isaiah comes up with given Ahaz’s silence. Never
in a million years would anyone but a Prophet of God think of the sign we read
about today, “that the virgin shall
conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel”. Yet this is exactly
what God does. And so Jesus is both the Son of God and the Son of Mary.
Today’s readings remind us that Jesus began his ministry in the
security and safety of a family with Joseph and Mary to guide and teach him how
to live a virtuous life. Joseph, as we know from the little we read of him in
scripture, was a man of courage as shown by his willingness to accept what the
angel had revealed to him. He was also a protector of his family, doing all
that was necessary to keep them safe. Mary was a woman of strong faith and
trust in God. All of their daily decisions, conversations around the supper
table, interactions with their neighbors, relatives, merchants, fellow Jews,
and even Roman occupation forces exposed Jesus to day to day life and helped
shape his understanding of the world. We know that soon after the child’s
birth, the holy family became fugitives, seeking safety by traveling to Egypt. The
love and care that Jesus received from Mom and Dad helped strongly influenced his
human nature as he grew in wisdom and understanding of his divinity.
By situating himself within a family environment, Jesus gives us
insight into his divine family – the Trinity. Family for us is the visible sign
of the relationship we have with one another, a relationship of mutual love,
affirmation and support. Within the family, each member is nurtured and
nourished by the common shared experiences of all. Indeed, any good that we see
as essential for a wholesome and balanced family life can be attributed to the
Trinity wherein these attributes exist in their perfection.
As we draw closer to this great Feast of the Nativity, let’s be mindful
that we are all part of God’s family. Indeed, we are all his Children. Let us
thank God for the gift of our families and ask him to guard, guide, and protect
us all in the days and years to come.
May you find God’s joy and peace in these closing days of Advent.
Deacon Tom
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