Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish

FR MICHAEL BIBLICAL IMAGERY

(Fr Michael Boakye Yeboah: Vice Rector of St Gregory Seminary, Kumasi-Ghana)

THE FAMILY FROM NAZARETH

                We are told by St Luke (Lk. 2:1ff) that while Quirinius was governor of Syria, Emperor Augustus decreed that all people should be registered – that is, a census. Some modern commentators are of the view that it wasn’t a census of people but of property. If this is the case it would be strange for a poor man like Joseph to own a property outside Nazareth or probably it was an ancestral property bequeathed to him, since he was of the Davidic family. Anyway, there was a census whether of persons or property and everyone was to register in his hometown. Joseph was of the Davidic family and so he and his wife went to Bethlehem. Tradition has it that it was on 24 December night when they arrived at the gates of Bethlehem. As expected the simple town was bustling with people and night activities. The town was a small place with few inns. Joseph and Mary called-in on the inns in the town but there was no room available. Apart from the inns, no household, we are told opened its doors for them. But did the people of Bethlehem know the value of the couple in town? If a family or an inn keeper had even mistakenly hosted the couple, they could have earned an eternal recognition in the annals of history and in the Bible.

            But why will any person host a poor couple from Nazareth? Like our world today, the then world treated people per their family status and place of origin. As many people held at the time, there was nothing good that emerged from Nazareth. Their poor appearance wasn’t attractive and becoming of a couple who will attract attention and recognition. Another question that begs for an answer is that if Joseph was from the prestigious Davidic family and Bethlehem was the town of David, where were the family members of Joseph when he came to town with his wife?

            When no option was available, the couple had to beg a local farmer to make do with his stable. I can imagine what was going through the head of Mary. This was a woman that only nine months earlier received a visit from a heavenly Archangel paid her a visit with an invitation to become the Mother of God, and after that her senior cousin Elizabeth filled with the Holy Spirit declared that she is the most blessed of women. In human terms no one could see blessedness in what was happening to Mary on that 24th December night. Who could link blessedness to giving birth in a filthy stable? But once again the words of the prophet Isaiah come to fore: “…his ways are not our ways and his thoughts are not our thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

            God decided to introduce his only begotten Son to us in that fashion and who can question Him. The silence of Joseph and Mary is exemplary, worthy of emulation. Christmas teaches us something in life. The beginnings of life cannot be used as the determinant factor for one’s success in life. There are a lot of great people who had challenging and poor beginnings in life but they like Jesus are the most celebrated people in our world. The life of Joseph and Mary should pass an important message to many Christians who think that because they are poor and cannot lay hands on anything reasonable to celebrate Christmas, God does not think well of them. The first Christmas in Bethlehem was “tough” for Joseph, Mary, and their baby but they did not curse God. Neither did they question God for that particular situation.

            I dedicate this weekend’s reflection to those who find themselves in some tough situations in life like the first Christmas in Bethlehem. Like Joseph, Mary, and Jesus in Bethlehem, you may be going through some tough moments as we celebrate Christmas. Some families’ poverty situation can be likened to that of Joseph and Mary. Some children dream of sumptuous meals on Christmas day other children dream of such meals but on Christmas day it will only remain a dream. Worse still others for the first time they will celebrate Christmas with a health challenge. How can one be happy if (s)he has been told of a terminal disease or has lost a loved relation? I know some people are going through difficult moments as we celebrate Christmas, please be consoled. We need to hope against hope in difficult moments because our God is not a God for a particular day. If one remains patient and wait on the Lord, He will transform one’s situation and make it glorious as He did to Joseph and Mary. Today may be full of challenges but be hopeful for tomorrow. OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP

PRAY FOR US.