Possible with God

Today’s Gospel Text:  Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called my son."  16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:  18 "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more." Matt 2:13-18

Reflection: Sometimes some people spend time in the ejaculatory one liner prayers with fervent devotion.  They will repeat these prayers again and again raising their hearts and mind to God.

One such person I recently came across would recite this particular one liner a hundred times daily: “Nothing is impossible with God.”

Indeed our God is the God of all possibilities there is nothing that he can’t accomplish.

But such faith, if not open to the wisdom of God, can land us in severe trouble, even for all eternity; it is as if forcing God to work according to our will in all things and in everything.

Faith is best lived according to the good, pleasant and pleasing will of God and that is what we as Christians are called to train our minds at. (cfr. Rom. 12:2)

In this gospel passage of today, Joseph and Mary could have asked the God of all possibilities, the luxury of life and to work a miracle for them in Bethlehem itself rather than ask of them to rush to Egypt in this condition, that too with a divine child.

The scripture clearly tells us that it is his will which is of prime importance in every prayer we make. In other words the goal of prayer, even before we learn to ask is to learn how to grow in knowing and understanding his will and plan for us.

Each one is called to grow in the knowledge of God, which is necessary for our own growth. Seeking to please him is first and foremost an action that will help us to grow and reach our completeness and thus our happiness.

  

Great peace have those who love thy law; nothing can make them stumble. Ps 119:165

Therefore the Psalmist would say; there is nothing shall I want. (Ps. 23:1)

Prayer:  Lord, may I have your wisdom and learn to rest in your will rather than seek those comforts which does not glorify you.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

It’s True

Today’s Gospel Text:  Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; 19 and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; 21 she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:  23 "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus. Matt 1:18-25

Reflection: The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Godhead and Jesus reveals to us that it is he who is going to be with us forever.

He has been given to us in Baptism and we are called to walk according to the Spirit (Gal. 5:16,25)

Joseph was willing not to walk by the Spirit and could have continued to follow the law of God, if not for that intervention of God in his dream and he would not have been wrong to put away Mary, after all it was not his responsibility to take care of a woman, who may be momentarily, considered as irresponsible in her discretion.

The whole law would have supported him in his action and what is worse Mary would have now been exposed publicly to meet the same of the many adulterers.

If Mary was exposed publicly, who would have believed her story, even in our day people, especially those who are sexually promiscuous, find it difficult to believe the great gift of continence and faithfulness to God.

Who doesn't wait for an opportunity to stand for justice and do what is right? Yes, the godless are the first to fight for justice through violence and wicked ways and such godless may have existed among the religious society of that time, clamoring for Mary's blood. 

They would have picked up the first stone to hit at Mary and perhaps succeeded in their design, if God would not have been with the righteous Mary. 

She is an embodiment of total faith and trust in the great possibilities of God.

How many of us men of faith will say; “nothing is impossible with God”, doubtless many will be able to say that but how many among these can in their actions and in their heart believe that this statement is true in every sense of the term.

To follow Jesus through Mary, is a call to believe in this great possibility of God, and Mary is there with us if we are to seek  her help to walk daily in that faith which alone can save us every moment unto eternity.

Prayer:  Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us