Out of Egypt I called My Son

 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him."  When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son."

Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.  Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:

"A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted,
Because they are no more."

Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead."  Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.  But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there.  And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee.  And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene."

- Matthew 2:13-23

Yesterday, we read that after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?  For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."  When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.  So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:  'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judea, are not the least among the rulers of Judah;  For out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.'"  Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.  And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."  When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.   And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.  And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him:  gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

  Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him."  When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son."   We observe again the importance of dreams and messages at this time, the work of the Holy Spirit in the world, and the presence of angels.  Joseph is a man who has already heard and listened and taken to heart such messages in keeping Mary as his wife, in protecting the Child.  As Christ is born, we observe these gifts of the Spirit at work in the world to all those who are instrumental in the story, and even the signs of nature as indicative that all of creation participates in this birth.  My study bible says that Egypt is where Israel once took refuge; as Joseph of the Old Testament once saved God's people by bringing them to Egypt (Genesis 39-47), now Christ's stepfather Joseph finds safety for the Savior in Egypt.  It notes that it is probable that the gifts of the magi paid for this journey.   Out of Egypt I called my Son refers first to Hosea 11:1, and the call of Israel being brought out of captivity.  My study bible says that in the Old Testament, "son" can refer to the whole nation of Israel.  Here, it says, Jesus fulfills this calling as the true Son of God by coming out of Egypt. Christ as fulfillment of the spiritual history of Israel is already embodying the "types" in the Old Testament.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.   Again we see fulfilled the images from the history of Israel; Herod was prefigured by Pharaoh, who attempted to destroy the power of Israel by commanding the death of all the newborn Jewish boys (Exodus 1:16, 22).

Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:  "A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted,  because they are no more."  My study bible says here:  "Jeremiah recorded the people of Jerusalem being led away to exile (Jeremiah 38:15).  On their way to captivity, they passed Ramah, which was near Bethlehem, where Jacob's wife Rachel lay buried.  In his prophecy, Jeremiah saw Rachel, even from the grave, moved with compassion for the fate that had befallen her descendants.  Here Rachel is again weeping for her children, showing that the saints in heaven have awareness and compassion for those yet on earth.  These slaughtered children are regarded as saints and martyrs in the Church and are known as the Holy Innocents.  Just as Rachel was told that her children would return from exile in Babylon (Jeremiah 38:16-17), so Jesus will return from His exile in Egypt."

 Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead."  Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.  Again, a prophetic dream in which an angel appeared is given to Joseph in order to protect the Child.  My study bible says that Herod the Great died in 4 BC.  The date of Christ's birth on which our "AD" or (Anno Domini, Latin for "year of the Lord") calendar is based is off by four years. 

Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.  But when he hard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there.  And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee.   And again a warning comes to Joseph in a dream.  Archelaus, named here, was banished by Augustus Caesar for his cruelty, in AD 6.  My study bible says that this cruelty was revealed as a warning to Joseph; hence, the detour to Nazareth of Galilee.  Galilee was governed by another son of Herod the Great, called Herod Antipas, who will play a great role in the lives and deaths of both John the Baptist and Jesus. 

  And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene."   This prophecy, according to my study bible, cannot be exactly identified.  It has been taken as a reference to the rod (Hebrew neser) in Isaiah 11:1, and to the Nazirite (Hebrew Nazir) of Judges 13:5.   It's possible that Matthew is alluding to passages in which the Messiah was despised, since Nazareth did not have a good reputation (see John 1:46).

In the story of Jesus, the wondrous continues to accompany His birth and His infanthood.  His human "step-father" Joseph continues to be the protector who is able to hear the warnings given in dreams, the angel who appears to guide and protect this family.  We don't get a lot of information about Mary in Matthew; instead, here the focus has been more on Joseph, that necessary protector for both Mary and Jesus.  And despite the fact that all of creation participates in this birth, in this story (yesterday's reading was about the star that guided the wise men who came to worship Jesus), we also find in this plan the adversity between the "worldly" and the holy.  Jesus is not born into a world of perfect human life.  He's born into a world where power is abused and abused harshly.  It's a world where foreigners sit on the thrones that rule Judea and the Jewish people here also in Galilee where they settle; but the most ruthless are those of the region of Judea, where Jesus was born in Bethlehem, making it impossible for the Child to continue there -- almost immediately so from His birth.  So why, we have to ask, is this the story of God coming into the world in human form?  It's a great mistake to equate somehow the "perfect life" (on our terms) with the work of God.  This Savior or Redeemer comes into the world with a purpose, with a mission, and it's not to be welcomed by everyone, with perfect vision and the ability to receive messages of angels.  There is hostility to the good in this world, hostility to what is holy.  It comes in so many forms, as antagonism to peace, destruction of joy, vilifying good news.  Jesus is here born into a struggle, even as an infant.  It is a spiritual struggle in which He will grow as liberator, as One who has come to "set the captives free."  All we can do is admire the beauty of this birth and its associations with the beautiful and the splendid, with the wise men who are guided by a star and also by dreams, with the wise Joseph and also Mary, so young but so full of the gifts of God and the knowledge she takes to heart.  John the Baptist has been born to the pious Elizabeth and Zacharias, and we have heard also prophecy from the elderly who may depart in peace having seen the birth of the Savior to which they are enlightened (Simeon and Anna).  Let us not forget the glory that shone around the shepherds in the field, giving them the good news that absolutely had to be shared, inviting them also to participate in the scene of this birth in Bethlehem.  Jesus brings into the world joy and beauty, wondrous prophecy, spontaneous song and poetry, and this good news is shared with those who can accept it and who will be a part of it coming and growing in the world.  But we still have the "worldly business" of power, of ruthlessness and expediency, of opportunism, of every struggle we face in ourselves between our own selfish or "worldly" motives and the voice that calls us with a message to take a different route.  He has been born into this world to give us everything, and a pouring out of the Spirit upon all, every single one of us.  How do we receive it?  How does this struggle continue, mirrored in the world around us?  How is His peace and joy a part of our lives in the midst of it all?  How does His joy infuse even the worst of times in the place of the heart, with Him?  Can we hear the good news, even midst the bad?

Out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel

 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?  For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."  When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judea,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.'"

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.  And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."

When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.   And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.  And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him:  gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

- Matthew 2:1-12

On Saturday, we began readings for the Christmas season in Matthew's Gospel.  It begins as the book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:  Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his bothers.  Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram.  Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon.  Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.  Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rebhoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa.  Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joam, and Joram begot Uzziah.  Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah.  Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah.  Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.  And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel.  Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakin, and Eliakin begot Azor.  Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Eliud.  Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob.  And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.  So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows:  After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.  But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."  So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:  "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God is with us."  Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.  And he called His name JESUS.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem . . .  My study bible explains that these wise men, or magi, who have come from the East (most likely Persia), were the scholars of their time.  It says that in the Old Testament, Balaam (Numbers 23; 24) was one of their predecessors.  He was a Gentile who anticipated the Messiah.  These foreigners prefigure the Church, in which membership isn't determined by ethnic origin, but by faith.

 . . . saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?  For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."  My study bible says, "The star proclaims the extraordinary birth of Christ.  To ancient pagans, a star signified a god, a deified king (Numbers 24:17).  Christ being born under this star fulfills the prophecy in Psalm 109:3 and shows all of creation participating in the Incarnation."  In the translation used by my study bible  this verse reads:  With you is the beginning in the day of Your power, In the brightness of Your saints; "I have begotten You from the womb before the morning star."  (It corresponds to Psalm 110 in the King James Version, and also the Douay-Rheims translation of the Latin Vulgate.)   See also Psalms 18:2 and 148:3 for other examples. 

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.  So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:  'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judea, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.'  Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.  And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."   My study bible tells us that Herod had to summon the Jewish leaders because he knew little about the Jewish Messiah (not being born a Jew himself), and he feared losing his throne to the newborn king.  The chief priests, it says, were the political and religious leaders of the Jews, and the scribes were high cabinet officers.  They knew where the Messiah was to be born.  But in spite of all of the signs being in place, they had no idea that He had come (see 16:3).

When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.   And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.  And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him:  gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.  My study bible points out that Luke tells us the shepherds worshiped the Savior in the cave on the day He was born (a cave is where the manger was, the place for animals by Near East tradition -- see the reading for Thursday, Christmas day), the Gentile magi came to worship Him some time later.  By this time, suggests my study bible, Joseph and Mary had found a house in which to dwell.  It says, "This indicates that Christ first came to the Jews and then afterward was worshiped by the Gentiles.  The significance of the Magi's gifts is revealed in a hymn sung at Compline of the Nativity:  'Gold is for the King of ages.  Frankincense is for the God of all.  Myrrh is offered to the Immortal One, who shall be three days dead.'"

As we observed in the earlier readings for the Christmas season, from the beginning two chapters of Luke and also chapter 1 of Matthew, there is so much activity viewed in the work of the Holy Spirit in the world, the activity that surrounds the event of the Christ being born Incarnate into the world.  Again, we refer to the prophecy of Joel:  "I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions" (Joel 2:28).  All is surrounded in these stories of the birth of Christ by visions, prophecy, dreams.  The appearance of angels (messengers of God) accompany every event.  Here in today's reading, the "wise men" come from the East.  They are scholars learned in the knowledge of the time; we imagine this particularly includes astronomy.  Their great wealth they bring with them as gifts indicates rather exalted positions in the place where they are from.  Gold we know has always had value, but the trade of resins used for incense in courts and temples was an extremely lucrative one; the earliest trade routes we know from the historical Middle and Near East were originally made for the trade of the best rare incenses; that is, resins such as Frankincense and Myrrh.  These are gifts made for a king.  As my study bible points out, here we are given a story of Gentiles coming to worship this king, who is not just a king in the ordinary sense, but one who is anointed, proclaimed by the heavens in the star.  He is the Christ.  Others from far away know this, but all the wisdom entrusted to the Jewish leadership in the temple has not produced men of this generation in their high positions who know this.  Matthew's Gospel, written for a Jewish audience, proclaims the wisdom of the outsiders, these men from the East.  And there we have to look -- again -- at the whole participation of creation in this birth.  The star teaches something to the men from the East, who come to worship this king with great gifts, but we have already read of the glory of the Lord shining round the shepherds in the field, and the work of the Spirit that has been present through so many people made aware of this great event.  And then there is Herod.  Herod the Great, a ferocious builder of wondrous projects known to all the world (such as the restoration of the temple), and a ferociously ruthless leader, known also as someone who murders his family members for power, comes into this story.  He's the king of Judea who is not really a Jew and has been imposed by the ruling Romans.  He brings with him the image of the Gentiles who "lord it over one another" in ways that are appalling to the Jewish spiritual tradition, but in the most bloodthirsty fashion, considered extreme even among other rulers of the time.  And this is somehow part of the plan, that Jesus is born at this place and in this time.  There are yet obstacles to be considered.  But dreams come, and dreams come.  Those with ears to hear and eyes to see can receive such dreams, and Joseph, we will see, is also one of those people who can receive the word of angels.  But today we have the image of the wise men of the East, those who know, who somehow through their own systems of knowledge receive word of this king born who is to be worshiped.  They know.  And to the early Church Gentiles who had all come from pagan backgrounds, it made perfect sense that this revelation of the Christ should be the fulfillment of all traditions that bear truth, wisdom, and true knowledge in the highest esteem.  For the early doctors of the Church, the most renown of which were schooled in the highest education the classical world could offer in mathematics and especially philosophy, this made sense; if we worship the Person who is Truth ("I am the way, the truth, and the life"), then all that serves truth, beauty, and goodness (to use a phrase from the ancient Greek philosophers) must also serve Christ.  He was the fullness of revelation coming to all that had come before, including the best in the Gentile world, reaching to Him.  This is the way our earlier ancestors who took up the faith viewed Christ, just as the magi could come from their own traditions and recognize this king coming into the world.  Let us remember the light is everywhere, and the glory of the Lord participates through all of Creation to teach us, to help us reach the place where we ought to be going.  What's your journey like?  Do you have ears to hear and eyes to see?  These pagan Gentiles know that the Babe born here in Bethlehem is the king worth seeking from far away, for a long journey into the unknown, even to the country of a ruthless ruler.   They go to Him offering the most precious gifts they can give.  They have faith.  Let us take their example and let it teach us about Christ and God's work in the world.

And he called His name JESUS

 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:  Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his bothers.  Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram.  Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon.  Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king.

David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.  Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rebhoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa.  Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joam, and Joram begot Uzziah.  Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah.  Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah.  Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.

And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel.  Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakin, and Eliakin begot Azor.  Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Eliud.  Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob.  And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.  So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows:  After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.  But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."

So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:  "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God is with us."

Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.  And he called His name JESUS.

- Matthew 1:1-25

As we continue in the Christmas season, we turn to readings in Matthew (see also the readings of the past week which are from the first two chapters of Luke) .  We start with Matthew's genealogy, and we see what it tells us about Jesus.

 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: . . .  We note first that in Luke, the genealogy is given at the beginning of Jesus' ministry, not in the story of His birth.  But here in Matthew, it is the very beginning of the story.  My study bible says that Jesus means, "O Lord save" which, of course, refers to Jesus' role as Savior.  Christ means "Anointed One," the Messiah, the One who is filled with the Holy Spirit (see John 1:33).  It says, "Though the Son alone became Man, God the Father and the Holy Spirit work in Jesus Christ to save us.  Jesus became Man as a Jew, from the lineage of Abraham, the father of all Jews, and of David, Israel's greatest king and the prototype of the royal Messiah.  This genealogy reveals that the Son of God so identifies with the human condition that He takes it all on Himself and becomes part of it.  Christ's ancestry includes righteous and wicked people, faithful kings and murderers, Jews and Gentiles, kings and peasants."

Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his bothers.  In Matthew, the genealogy begins with Abraham (while in Luke's 3rd chapter, the genealogy runs backward from Jesus to Adam).    Here we have the importance of the salvation history of Israel, as the Old Covenant was established with Abraham first, and it runs to Jesus who brings the New Covenant.  A note says, "God promised to bless all the tribes of the earth in Abraham (Genesis 12:3, 28:14); and this promise is subsequently fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the greatest Son of Abraham. 

Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram.  Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon.  Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, . . .    Here's something very unusual.  Jewish genealogical lists normally consist of only men.  But this one given by Matthew for Jesus has several women listed:  Tamar, Rabah, Ruth, and Bathsheba.  It's highly unusual.  And, each of these women was either a Gentile or a sinner.  So why are they included?  My study bible says that the inclusion of these women declares what kind of a Savior is born in Jesus Christ:  God's graciousness is abundant and the Gentiles will also be called into the Church.  It also underscores the role of women in God's plan of salvation, and anticipates the special place of the Virgin Mary in this plan. 

. . . Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king.   My study bible says, "Through anointing by Samuel, David was made king.  Through his psalms, David was reveals as a great prophet.  Thus, David foreshadows both the royal and the prophetic nature of Jesus Christ (Psalm 110).  As an adulterer and murderer, David also functions as a type for all repentant sinners. 

David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.  Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rebhoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa.  Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joam, and Joram begot Uzziah.  Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah.  Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah.  Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.  And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel.  Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakin, and Eliakin begot Azor.  Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Eliud.  Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob.  And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.   A note in my study bible says that Joseph can be named as Jesus' immediate predecessor since Old Testament marriage laws confer hereditary rights on adopted as well as biological sons.  The church fathers teach that Mary also was descended from David.  The "of whom" in "of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ" is feminine in the Greek, thus, it refers only to Mary.  Jesus is shown therefore to be born of Mary but not begotten of Joseph.

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.  My study bible says that "Christ's ancestors are arranged in three groups of fourteen generations.  Fourteen is the numerical equivalent of the consonants in the name David, underlining Jesus' descent from David.  This also shows the division of the leadership of the Jews, being under judges until David, under kings until Babylon, and under priests until Christ."

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows:  After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.   The genealogy in Matthew leads us through the generations, to the man who will be the earthly protector and take the role of earthly father of Jesus:  Joseph.  While in Luke we read a lot about Mary, here Matthew gives us some of the substance of Joseph.  My study bible says that "the righteousness of Joseph consisted of a mercy that transcends the Law (Hosea 6:6).  Joseph showed this mercy by his unwillingness to expose Mary's supposed sin, even though he was obliged by the Law to do so.  Her husband:  The Bible calls engaged couples husband and wife before their marriage (Rachel was called the wife of Jacob before marriage by virtue of their engagement in Genesis 29:21; see also Deuteronomy 22:23-24).  Thus, Joseph is called the husband of Mary, and Mary is called his wife (vv. 20, 24).  In the Church, Joseph is remembered as the Betrothed, pointing out Mary's ever-virginity." 

  But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."   My study bible says, "An angel (or 'messenger') of the Lord dispels Joseph's false reasoning by announcing the utterly unreasonable:  the pregnancy of the Virgin is by the Holy Spirit.  Being born of a virgin proves Christ's divinity; only a revelation by God could serve as adequate evidence of this miracle."

 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:  "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God is with us."    Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.  And he called His name JESUS.  We look here to the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, where it is foretold that a virgin would conceive a bear a Son.  Jesus, as conceived by Mary, isn't a "new Person" coming into the world, as my study bible puts it, but the eternal Son of God using her womb as His throne.  Both the virginal conception by means of the Holy Spirit and the name Immanuel, God with us declare the divinity of Christ.   The force of the Greek in the saying that "Joseph did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son" is a kind of guarantee that Joseph could not be His biological parent; it indicates nothing of the future afterward -- in fact my study bible points out that often this same language as used in the Greek (often translated "to" rather than "till"), indicates a situation that continues afterward:  see Luke 28:20; Genesis 8:7; Deuteronomy 34:6; 2 Kings 6;23.

In the Genealogy of Matthew and the continuation of the first chapter, we are introduced to Joseph.  As Joseph is not often mentioned, it is a great treat to get to know his character here.  We can see already, before Jesus' birth, He is given an earthly parent who exceeds the requirements of righteousness.  Joseph is a man who practices mercy in the way that Christ will teach us all to do; and as my study bible points out, he is a man who understands truly the meaning of Hosea 6:6 -- "I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."  This is a man fit to be the parent of Christ, the earthly guardian and parent -- a man who is great in wisdom and spiritual understanding in so many ways we're already told about.  He is a "just" man -- a truly righteous person.  Most of all we see the mercy offered to this wife who is supposed to be a virgin, even before the dream of the angel's message to him.  Here is a man who is capable of receiving angels, as was Zacharias, as was Mary, as Elizabeth accepted the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.  We have again the coming of the Savior into the world, and with that the "dryness" of Israel is replenished with the living water of the Spirit, the voices and messages of angels to those who can hear and receive, who "have ears to hear and eyes to see" as Jesus will so often say, referring back to Isaiah and other prophets of Israel.  It reminds me of Joel's prophecy regarding the coming of the Lord:  "I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions" (Joel 2:28).  This is what is  happening in Israel, and it is a call to faith, to turning minds and hearts to God, to a repentance ready for the peace of God.  All is working together for this.  But again, we note, none of it runs "smoothly" in our way of thinking.  Joseph is immediately confronted with a heart-rending choice in his betrothal to Mary:  she is pregnant.  He is a righteous man, and prepares to put her away secretly, although a strict interpretation of the law would compel him to expose  her.  Everything "could have" gone all wrong at this moment, depending on Joseph's choice.  Had he been a hard-hearted man, a man afraid of the "opinions of men," who held those considerations stronger than what was pleasing to God, what could have been here, right from the beginning?  The babe in Mary's womb is bringing about all kinds of joyous understanding, prophecy, dreams, angels, and beauty of extraordinary glory, and light, beyond a worldly understanding.  Can we hear?  Could we have these eyes to see?  Do we share the heart of Joseph, this amazing man?  How thankful we must be to him, and to all other men who are like him.  We notice one more important and essential detail:  according to Matthew, it is Joseph who "called His name JESUS." 

Simeon and Anna

 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD"), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of the Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.  So he came by the Spirit into the temple.  And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

"Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
For my eyes have seen Your salvation
Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel."

And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.  Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.  She was of a great age, and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.  And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

- Luke 2:22-38

Yesterday, we read that it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.  So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.   Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.  So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.  Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you:  You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:  "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"  So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us."  And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.  Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.  And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.  Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.  And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.


Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD"), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."  My study bible tells us that Mary fulfills the law (Leviticus 12) by bringing Jesus to the temple on the fortieth day.  The law required that an offering of an unblemished lamb be brought or if the mother is not able to bring a lamb, then she brings a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons (Leviticus 12:6-8).  The quotation refers to Exodus 13:2, 12, 15.

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of the Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  My study bible say that Simeon represents humanity in waiting for the Consolation of Israel.  He fulfills Psalm 91:16, in which God makes a promise to the one who loves Him:  "With length of days I will satisfy him,/And show him My salvation."

So he came by the Spirit into the temple.  And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: . . .   We look at Isaiah's reception of the burning coal from the angel in Isaiah 6:6-7, and compare it with Simeon's reception of Christ.  My study bible says, "In both cases, a prophet receives the life-giving fire of the offering -- Isaiah received the type, and Simeon receives the fulfillment."

"Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word;  For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel."  This canticle is sung daily at Vespers for many denominations.  "Since salvation has been born into all the world," says my study bible, "all peoples can embrace death (see Philippians 1:23).  For the Christian, death is no longer frightful, but a gateway to everlasting peace."

And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.  Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."  The "fall and rising of many in Israel" becomes a statement about the sword being brought that is the sword of Christ's truth; it's about the second coming that is promised in the first, and the reckoning of the world.  My study bible says, "for the believer, it will be a resurrection to life; for the unbeliever, it will be a falling into judgment (John 5:29)."  This sword that will pierce Mary's own soul is the anguish she will experience as she witnesses her Son's death.  Her soul will be pierced in grief.  Ultimately, it is the "thoughts of many hearts" that are revealed through the mission of Christ.

 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.  She was of a great age, and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.  And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.  My study bible says of this passage that both men and women are called to proclaim Christ's redemption, and women are the first to proclaim His Resurrection (Luke 24:9). 

In all our recent readings from passages that "surround" the birth of Jesus, the advent of the Light that comes into the world, we have had mysterious movings of the hand of God, the work of the Holy Spirit.  Coming in song and hymns and praise, in prophecy, and light and glory, great things are being shaken up and introduced into the world.  It is coming into what is now a "dry and parched" land, in which things are not as they should be given the spiritual history of Israel.  There is a "king of Judea" who was not born a Jew but rather converted for expediency's sake, in order to take the throne as "ordained" by the Romans.  It has been many, many years since there has been a prophet in Israel.  But now, the light breaks, and even babes in the womb leap at the entrance of Mary who carried the fetus Jesus.  Prophecy returns to Israel in an astounding way:  a child leaps in its mother's womb, a woman (Elizabeth) declares spontaneously that her kinswoman (Mary) is carrying "my Lord" in her womb.  There is the song of Mary that bursts forth, the song that comes from the formerly mute Zacharias, and everything begins with the announcement of angels appearing to human beings:  see the announcement to Zacharias here and here, the Annunciation to Mary, and the angels who appear to the shepherds in the fields.  In today's reading we have Simeon's song and the spontaneous declaration of Anna, two elderly people who have awaited the Consolation of Light and Living Water in a parched land, with great faith.  The Holy Spirit is at work through everyone in these scenes, it is a time of truth and revelation, in the beauty of song and poetry and prophecy.  This is how Jesus' life begins, but the world interferes a little, too.  We see the difference in that there was no room at the inn for these parents, in the "fall and rising" of many, in the sword that will pierce Mary's heart.  Let us remember it is God's holy plan -- especially when our own may go so awry as well.  Let us persist with faith, and the patience asked of us in God's time.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.  So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.  So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you:  You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

"Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us."  And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.  Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.  And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.  Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

- Luke 2:1-21

 Yesterday, Christmas Eve, we had two readings, which included two songs:  one of Mary, and the other of Zacharias.  The Holy Spirit is actively at work with prophecy and beauty as Jesus is formed in the womb.  We read Mary's Magnificat:  "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.  For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;  for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.  For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.  And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.  He has shown strength with His arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.  He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.  He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.  He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever."    And then Zacharias loses his muteness and also gives his song through the power of the Holy Spirit, called the Benedictus:  "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us   In the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham:  To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.  And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." 

 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.  So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.   My study bible tells us that God uses earthly rulers to accomplish His will.  This census enabled Christ to be born in Bethlehem, fulfilling the prophecy of Micah (Micah 5:1).  In the hymn by St. Cassiane which is sung at Vespers of the Lord's Nativity in the Eastern Church of the Lord's Nativity, Augustus ruling as the only emperor over many scattered cities becomes an icon of our one Lord who gathers the scattered pagans of the world.  Christ having been registered in the fallen world then enables the faithful to be registered in the name of God.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.  So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.   We notice the term "firstborn" used here; it indicates that no child was born before Jesus.  My study bible says that the firstborn son is traditionally the primary heir and recipient of blessings.  "Christ is the firstborn over all creation, and thus the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:15, 18).  In icons of the Nativity, Christ's swaddling cloths are depicted as burial wrappings, affirming that one purpose of His coming to endure death.  The manager, or feed trough, would have been in a cave where animals were kept, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah:  'The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master's crib"  (Isaiah 1:3).

 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  My study bible says that shepherds are chosen to hear the first announcement of the Nativity.  They are symbols of Christ the Good Shepherd (John 10:11).  Unlike the Pharisees, they were without guile and had simple faith.  The glory of the Lord tells us about the coming of the Light into the world.

Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you:  You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:  "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"  A note tells us:  "The message of the first angel is confirmed by the multitude,  fulfilling the Law in which every word is established with two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15).  Christ Himself is our peace who has come to earth; in Him, man is no longer estranged from God (see Ephesians 2:14-16)."

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us."  And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.  Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.  And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.  Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.   My study bible says that the shepherds are also images of the bishops and presbyters of the Church, who proclaim Christ to the world.  It cites St. Ambrose, who writes that Mary's own faith was strengthened by the news from the shepherds, and he asks, "If Mary herself learns from the shepherds, why do so many refuse to learn from the presbyters of the Church?"

And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.  Christ comes to perfectly fulfill the Law, and He receives circumcision under the Law.  In the Eastern Church, it is an ancient tradition to name a child eight days after birth, with a special blessing.

Let us consider all the things that are at work here in the scene of Jesus' birth.  The whole universe is, in some sense, singing.  With the hymns and proclamations of the angels to the shepherds, we get the feeling that if only one were still enough, and far away from the busyness of the town, out in the fields at night, one can hear this hymn and this proclamation of the good news of the Light that makes its way into the world, as one of us.  The news itself is so "bright" that the shepherds feel compelled to come into Bethlehem, looking for the Child.  While Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart, the shepherds rejoice and give glory to God.  It's intriguing that my study bible points out that the good news of the shepherds works also to strengthen the faith of Mary.  We think of her as a tower of strength in terms of her faith, but here we see clearly how the universe works to bring the light into the world, and by increasing our faith.  We all work together in this work of faith, even in the receiving of the Light.  John's Gospel teaches us, in his own version of the genealogy of Christ:  "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not"  (John 1:5).  Yesterday we read in Zacharias' prophetic song, that the purpose of this mission is "to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."  If we really understand peace as that state we have when we are reconciled to God, then peace is also a place of this great light filling us, our world, our thoughts, our hearts.  And this peace can be offered from one to another, through one to another.  We are all in this together with saints and angels.  The spreading of the light then becomes a corporate work, involving the vast mechanisms of the universe in touch with our hearts, where we both share this light and this peace, and receive it one from another.  There are no barriers to this work; it travels from generation through generation and onward, we live with the living body of all the saints and the holy angels, entering into praise, hymns, and also the glory of the Lord that shone around the shepherds.  We are all together, as we live to the God of the living and not the dead.  Jesus will tell His followers that they are the light of the world, and that we must let our light so shine before all that they may see our good works, that they should glorify the heavenly Father as well.  We all work together, entering into one another's labor.  We have lots of help.  Let us remember the shepherds who strengthened Mary's faith, and accept that the power of that faith is really peace -- the light that shines into the world in Him is our light to shine as well.  Let's take note of the fact that there is no room at the inn, despite all the heavenly help, the prophecy, the work of the Holy Spirit, the angels.  And let us think -- perhaps when everything doesn't go perfectly according to our plans, there's another plan at work that needs our faith, so that we go on to discover the "plan" of a lifetime.

Benedictus

 Now Elizabeth' full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son.  When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.  So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. 

His mother answered and said, "No; he shall be called John."  But they said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name."  So they made signs to his father -- what he would have him called.  And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, "His name is John."  So they all marveled.  Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.  Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea.  And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, "What kind of child will this be?"  And the hand of the Lord was with him.

Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
"Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited and redeemed His people,
And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of His servant David,
As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,
Who have been since the world began,
That we should be saved from our enemies
And from the hand of all who hate us,
To perform the mercy promised to our fathers
And to remember His holy covenant,
The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:
To grant us that we,
Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;
For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
To give knowledge of salvation to His people
By the remission of their sins,
Through the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;
To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace."

So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

- Luke 1:57-80

In the first reading for today, we have read the story of Mary's song, called the Magnificat.  Now Mary arose in those days (after Gabriel's Annunciation to her) and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.  And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!  But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.  Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord."  And Mary said:  "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.   For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.  For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.  And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.  He has shown strength with His arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.  He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.  He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.  He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy,  As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever."  And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

 Now Elizabeth' full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son.  When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.  So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias.  My study bible tells us that circumcision was a sign of Israel's covenant with God and the means by which a male became a member of God's community (Genesis 17:10; Leviticus 12:3).  In Christ, circumcision is fulfilled in baptism (see Colossians 2:11).

His mother answered and said, "No; he shall be called John."  But they said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name."  So they made signs to his father -- what he would have him called.  And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, "His name is John."   My study bible says that John means "grace of God."  It says, "By insisting on the name God chose for her son, Elizabeth affirms God has called John to a specific mission (see also 1:31; Genesis 17:5, 15; 32:28)."

So they all marveled.  Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.  Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea.  And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, "What kind of child will this be?"  And the hand of the Lord was with him.  Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:  "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us   In the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham:  To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.  And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."   A note tell us:  "When Zacharias assented to God's will, his mouth was opened.  Just as prophecy is restored at the Incarnation of Christ, so Zachariaas, as high priest, can speak again now that the Savior and His forerunne3r have come.  Note Zacharias immediately declares Christ (vv. 68-69), and secondly declares the role of his own son as prophet of the Highest."

So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.   My study bible tells us:  "Dwelling in the desert, away from the stains and wickedness of the masses, John is able to fight temptation and grow strong in spirit.  According to the tradition of the Church, John was brought to the deserts by Elizabeth when Zacharias was martyred, and there was ministered to by angels."

Zacharias has been rendered mute because of his doubt of the word of Gabriel as he performed his priestly duties at the altar.  But at his assent to the name John for his son, he is filled with the Holy Spirit.  If you think about it, this name is the sign that the Baptist isn't just the property of his father and mother, he will not merely reflect family lineage -- he's not given a family name.  Rather, John is a child consecrated to God, filled with the Holy Spirit, and this is what the selection of the name tells us.  At Zacharias' assent to this name by writing it on a tablet (making certain we understand its meaning as "grace of God"), he is filled with the Holy Spirit, and a song of prophecy results.  It is a song prophesying the coming of the Lord of salvation, and the role that will be played by John, whom we shall know as John the Baptist.  It is a song of blessing; we call it the Benedictus.  It is also a song of deliverance from enemies, which is another aspect of a redeemer that we don't often think about.  It is the meaning of the term "to ransom."  The purpose for this deliverance from enemies is to worship in peace, and to spread the light of the "Dayspring" comes in visitation of His people, "to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."  The Holy Spirit speaks through Zachariah, and we are to take his words to heart.  From what do we wish to be delivered, and what for?  There is a clear expression here of the purpose of our lives, of what freedom an enemy curbs in our capture, and what we are liberated in order to do in peace.  Can we set our lives on this sort of plane, on this basis for an understanding of freedom and what it means?  Do we understand what it is to find salvation through the "tender mercy" of God, and the greatness of the mission to give light and to "guide our feet into the way of peace?"  This is the central core of the message, that a redeemer will ransom us in order to spread God's light and peace, to lift the darkness and those who suffer in the shadow of death.  As we celebrate the coming of the Light, let us remember what life is all about at its core, in the center of the message here.

Magnificat

Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.  And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!  But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.  Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord."

And Mary said:

"My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
He has helped His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and to his seed forever."

 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

- Luke 1:39-56

 Yesterday, we read that in the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to  city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.  The virgin's name was Mary.  And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"  But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.  Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."  Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"  And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.  Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.  For with God nothing will be impossible."  Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord!  Let it be to me according to your word."  And the angel departed from her.

 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.  And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. My study bible says that "because Christ is now incarnate, prophecy resumes in Israel.  The blessed John prophesies of the presence of Christ by leaping in the womb of Elizabeth.  As he is God's prophet, John's recognition of Christ fulfills what was spoken of Jeremiah:  'Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you' (Jeremiah 1:5)."

Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!"  Mary, says my study bible, receives veneration from both angels and humans.  As Gabriel had done earlier in this chapter, so now Elizabeth declare Mary to be blessed among women.

"But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.  Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord."  My study bible notes here that Mary is confessed as the mother of My Lord.  This confession, and others like it within the Church ("Theotokos" [Gr. God-bearer], "Mother of God," etc.), confirm that the One in the womb of Mary is both human and divine -- the very Son of God Himself.  At Vespers of Annunciation the Eastern Church declares, "It is the Word of God who dwells within her."  Even though His physical body was not yet fully formed, Jesus is nevertheless fully and truly the Son of God incarnate, and Mary is already recognized as being His mother. 

And Mary said:  "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.  For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;  for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.  For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.  And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.  He has shown strength with His arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.  He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.  He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.  He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever."  And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.   This passage (Mary's song) is known as the "Magnificat" from the first word of the song in Latin.  It comes from the heart of Mary, and was inspired by the song of Hannah (1 Samuel 2:1-10).  My study bible says that it is normally sung at Matins in the liturgical cycle, and that from this inspired hymn we are taught:  (1)  Christian believers for all time will honor and venerate the Virgin Mary, for she prophesied that all generations will call me blessed; (2) it is impossible to believe in the inspiration of Scripture and not bless the Mother of God; (3)  Mary ascribe the miracle of the Incarnation of God, and not to herself, showing both deep humility and the knowledge that God is the source of all grace; (4) through the Incarnation, God reigns over all."

The man who will be known as Jesus is barely a fetus in His human mother's womb, but He is nevertheless already understood to be My Lord.   John stirring in the womb of Elizabeth confirms the presence of the Holy One who is growing in Mary at this time.  Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesies.  And this is truly, finally, the time of prophecy.  That is, prophecy, the work of the Holy Spirit, manifests freely in Israel again after a long time of "barrenness."  Great things are stirring, new things are manifesting.  The hand of God becomes apparent at work in these two women and the children they are to bear.  And the work of the Spirit manifests in song!  In praise and poetry, words that are Scripture, that live for us today, come spontaneously out of the mouths of those so blessed.  Mary's song is one inspired by Hannah, with very similar elements of praise.  It is a song of blessings, and a song of judgment and righteousness, because with this great work manifesting in the world, God has " shown strength with His arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.  He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.  He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty."  In so doing, God has "helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever."   The joy in this announcement, like the one of Hannah, teaches us about God's work, God's blessings, and it is also about God's justice.  The empty are filled, the lowly are lifted, the poor inherit glory with the princes.  The work of God is like a great leavening, reminding us of John's words that will come to announce the Messiah:  "Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight."  God is the One who makes all things "straight."  He "evens up" the reality of the world that denies to some and takes away from others unjustly; but His mercy is on those who love Him forever.  As Jesus will say, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy"  (Matthew 5:7).  This great song is about the overflowing mercy and blessings of the Lord, the God who comes to His people who love Him, for whom everything come via faith, as Jesus' works will show.  Faith, that is, in the God who is justice and mercy, and truth and love, and teaches us righteousness -- to be "like Him."  Let us always recall how great a blessing this is: it is one for the whole world, it is accessed by anyone through faith.  This abundance of righteousness and mercy, of love and truth, of joy and peace, is here forever for any of us.  And it comes through this woman who calls herself blessed by God, her Savior.  It comes via her song to us, and the beauty of poetry in the verses; it is a chance for the redemption of all Israel and for all that follow.

Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word

 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to  city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.  The virgin's name was Mary.  And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"  But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.  Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."

Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"  And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.  Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.  For with God nothing will be impossible."

Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord!  Let it be to me according to your word."  And the angel departed from her.

- Luke 1:26-38

Yesterday, we read that the angel said to Zacharias:  "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.  And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.  For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink.  He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.  And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.  He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."  And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this?  For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."  And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.  But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time."  And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple.  But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.  So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.  Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, "Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people."

  Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to  city of Galilee named Nazareth . . . .   In the sixth month refers to the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy with John. 

. . . to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.  The virgin's name was Mary.   According to my study bible, the name Mary means "exalted one."  It says, "When Joseph is referred to as of the house of David, it reveals Mary also was descended from David's royal lineage, for a righteous man would usually marry within his own tribe.  Twice in this verse, and again by implication (in verse 34), Luke calls Mary a virgin."

And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"  According to the traditions of the Church, Eve brought forth children in sorrow (Genesis 3:17), while Mary, by contrast, who is the new Eve, will rejoice in bringing forth her Son; as Eve had been cursed, so now Mary is blessed.  Highly favored (charitou in the Greek) can also be translated "full of grace."   My study bible says, "Mary is the most blessed woman who has ever lived because of her complete willingness to receive God's grace, or in the words of her Son, to 'hear the word of God and keep it' (11:28)."

Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."   My study bible points out that Gabriel's announcement emphasizes two truths:  (1) you will conceive in your womb:  the Lord Jesus took His flesh -- His human nature -- from Mary herself; and (2) this is the divine Son of the Highest in Mary's womb.  Thus the one Person, Jesus, the eternal Son and Word of God, is both fully human and fully divine.  This truth was crucial in the defeat of the heretic Nestorius, who taught that Mary conceived a mere man who was later joined by the divine Son of God.  A hymn in the Eastern Church tells us, "The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin as Gabriel announces the coming of grace."

Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"   My study bible notes that Mary's question here (How can this be?) is different from Zacharias' question (see yesterday's reading).  Mary's does not indicate a lack of faith, as Zacharias' question did.  Rather, she is "merely inquiring into the manner in which something so extraordinary would happen."

 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.  Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.  For with God nothing will be impossible."  Here is already a messianic title (Holy One - see Psalm 16:10)  and a revelation of the Holy Trinity:  The Father (the Highest). the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord!  Let it be to me according to your word."  And the angel departed from her.  My study bible tells us:  "Mary's faithful response is that of highest obedience to God.  The Incarnation is not only the work of God, but it involves the free response of mankind in the person of Mary.  Whereas Eve once disobeyed, Mary now obeys; whereas Eve closed herself to God, Mary opens to His will.  Mary's response says, 'I am a tablet; let the Writer write whatever He desires on it' (Theophylact of Bulgaria)."

So who is Mary, after all?  Let us note that without her and her assent, the story is not possible.  Well, one presumes that with God, all things are possible, as it says in today's reading.  But it is her acceptance of the word of God that makes her extraordinary.  In today's world, so many of us seem to have been given the idea that Mary is a very pliant person, in some sense eager to please.  But I think that in a very important sense, nothing could be further from the truth.  Mary is a powerfully discerning person, even at the young age in which she is portrayed here, and her obedience is to God.  Throughout the life of her Son she will be His supporter, she understands who He is.  In His youth, she and her husband Joseph are His protectors.   In the Gospel of John, (John the one who became "her son" with Jesus' death on the Cross), it is she who prompted the first miracle at the marriage at Cana, turning water into wine.  This is a woman of supreme confidence in God, of tremendous faith, and that's what we need to "take home" about Mary.  My study bible says that for two thousand years the Church has preserved the memory of the Virgin Mary as the prototype of all Christians -- the model of what we are to become in Christ.  She was truly pure (in the deepest spiritual sense of her profound faith, her whole heart) and unconditionally obedient to God.  She's a model also in that she is the first person to receive Jesus Christ.  To quote my study bible, "As Mary bore Christ in her womb physically, all Christians now have the privilege of bearing God within them spiritually."  That is, of becoming like Him by God's purifying and empowering grace and mercy.  From the earliest times, the Church has called Mary Theotokos (Greek, literally, meaning "God-bearer"), a title, as my study bible says, implying that her Son is both fully man and fully God.  Mary was the source of His human nature as His mother, yet the One she bore in her womb was also the eternal God.  For all these and so many reasons, she has traditionally been considered the "first among the saints."   Throughout the ages, people have and continue to call on Mary for divine protection (both because of her own purity of faith and as "protectress" to Christ in the world and thereby the Church).  We ask her to pray with us, and she is the one who never turns away from anyone.  She is known as the great compassionate one, the human being who suffered with her Son, and took on all His life would mean, becoming also a mother figure to His followers, His Church.  In the Orthodox tradition, she is also known as a Champion General, with an important hymn sung to her throughout Lent bearing this title for her.  She is our defender, the one who bore and protected Christ in the world.  She is also the one who led the way for all of us in her acceptance of the role given to her.   One must consider the power of inner purity, and its complete defeat of the evil one.  For this reason, she is the one who helps to deliver us from sorrows.  Through her, as Mother of God, chosen by God to bear the Son into the world, the whole of humanity is truly uplifted.  She is the example, the icon we have of faith and strength, compassion and protection, and resistance to all evils, and purity and virtue.  In a world that so needs it, let us remember her strength to help us in our faith, that she always prays with us.  She is the compassionate Mother, and the one who always points us toward her Son.  Throughout the world she is the one known for her unfailing sympathy, kindness, and tenderness.  Her humility is her strength and confidence, as she is ever dedicated to Him.  In her faith, she is the unassailable tower, the one who assists in our prayers, who never lost confidence in her Son's true identity.  She is our lady of victories over all things that distract us from the people we are called to be by Christ.  She is the one who told the stewards at the wedding at Cana, "Whatever He says, do it."  She is in this role, she is Mother to all of us, a mother to the motherless, maidservant to the One who "sets the solitary in families," the saint who helps us on our way as we follow the Son. Let us not forget Christ's unwavering and, for His contemporaries, even shocking sympathy toward the women we meet in the Gospels, and especially so in Luke.  For myself, I suppose this, too, had something to do with who His mother was, and deepens my gratitude to her.