As we celebrate the Epiphany, and close out the Christmas Season, there have been some random thoughts crossing my mind ...
We hear much about the shepherds and wise men visiting the baby Jesus. But what about the relatives of Joseph in Bethlehem? Did they spend time with the Holy Family? Every day? Did they clear space for them in their homes immediately? Or did they think they were just crazy? And how about the people of Bethlehem? Surely they heard the commotion, and were told what was going on. How many of them believed? How many of them took the opportunity to gaze upon the Face of God? And how many went about their merry way, oblivious to the Gift in their midst?
Speaking of the wise men ... and the star they followed ... I realized at Mass that today there are millions of stars that can lead to Jesus ... us. The problem is some of us don't shine as brightly as we need to to get people to follow us.
I wonder if anyone found it odd that one of the gifts from the wise men was myrrh. Why give a child something that is more common for the dead? (Although I am reminded of the saying that from the minute you are born you are constantly one step closer to death...)
What about Mary's family? When did they receive news of Jesus' birth? Did they make the journey to Bethlehem to visit Him?
I imagined the birth of our Lord happening in today's day in age. So many things would have been different. For example, on the plus side, the world would have been able to watch His arrival because someone in Bethlehem would have captured it on their cell phone. On the downside, social media probably would have made it very easy for Herod to find the Holy Family.
I still can't believe how fortunate we are that God chose to come here in human form, and all of its constrictions, and suffer for us. His love is incomprehensible.
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas season. God Bless you and your families.
2 comments:
So many things to comment on here, Michael.
Our priest said today that the gift of myrrh was symbolic because this child was meant to die for us.
You mention what if it happened today. I believe social media would have ridiculed the whole notion that a woman can have a virgin birth. At best she would have been thought of as mental, or a liar. As for claiming He is the Son of God ... she must have delusions of grandeur. That's what modern social media would say!
Happy New Year to you and yours. God bless.
Victor, thank you for taking the time to comment. I, too, have heard that the Myrrh was symbolic of the death He would die ... I just wonder what people back then thought about it. Must have seemed so odd! And I agree with you about the social media part ... I have to admit I shudder to think about it.
Sumon, thank you for your kind words.
God bless.
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