FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT / A
Lectio divina on Mt from 1.18 to 24
Here is the Lord King of Glory
Lectio divina on Mt from 1.18 to 24
Here is the Lord King of Glory
Invoking
"Send your Holy Spirit, the Comforter in our souls and make us understand the Scriptures he inspired; and allow me to interpret in a worthy manner, so that the faithful gathered here derive profit. " "God our Savior ... I pray for this people on it sends the Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus comes to visit, talk to the minds of all have hearts to faith and lead you to our souls, God of Mercy." (Cf. Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Verbum Domini, 16).
Read
18's as was the birth of Jesus Christ: His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, who was right and did not want divorce, decided in secret. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, an angel appeared in his dream the Lord and said: "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife, because what is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son and you shall call his name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. " 22 All this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son who will be called Emmanuel, meaning God with us. 24 woke from sleep, Joseph did as the angel the Lord and took with him his bride.
A moment of silent reflection so that the Word can enter into us and enlighten our lives.
useful steps to meditation
Mt 1:23; 2,5.15.17.23, 4,14, 8.17, 12.17, 13,14.35, 28.20, Luke 1:26-38, 2, 1-20; Dt 22.13-27; Sir 15.2; 2 Sam 7.14 to 16, from 7.10 to 14
Is
Understanding
The Liturgy of the Word of this Fourth of Advent, revolves around a sign and a promise: the birth of a child, which would place the word 'God with us. " We find this fulfillment in the Gospel, in a prophetic sign of Emmanuel, in Jesus He is the sign of the faithfulness of God: his coming inaugurates a new era. Our expectation of the One who is, however, can not be expected idle and passive, requires the hospitality.
The Gospel, known as the Annunciation to Joseph, connects the birth of Jesus the promise of Emmanuel, Jesus is saying that this "sign" that God is with us.
For Matthew this issue will be taken up also in the fine of his Gospel when the Risen Lord promised his followers: "I am with you always ..." And in the figure of Joseph shows us a model of true and active cooperation with God's plan .
Meditation
v. 18: Here's how it was the birth of Jesus Christ: His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. We just finished with the genealogy (the first 17 verses), where in verse 16 we remember. "Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ." Now the facts are brought to light. First of all Matt does is put the person in front of Joseph and narrate the events according to the thinking of Joseph.
In this verse is already being described as the Mother Mary. There is a gift that Mary received from a gift to be preserved and enjoyed.
The Evangelist goes on to say that she is "pregnant" before living with Joseph, her betrothed. According to the law of Moses this error deserved the death penalty (Deuteronomy 22:20). But the evangelist points out to us, "child through the Holy Spirit." Here we want to point out that Joseph had nothing to do with the birth of Jesus Mary's pregnancy before she is living with Joseph, not a detour to humanity, but rather by divine will. In Luke we know how. Matthew, however, writes, "found herself pregnant." It is the most baffling and wonderful surprise that could have a creature that comes to conceive the inconceivable, his Creator.
Joseph welcomes the Son welcome Mary.
v. 19: Her husband Joseph, who was right and did not want divorce, decided in secret. We do not have a description of the soul of Joseph, but we have a definition that the same Evangelist Joseph: "Ok." He is like the prayer of Psalm 119, which seeks God and order their lives according to his will with great joy and His Law. In the Old Testament is the right man is one who is acceptable to God, and Joseph returned to the ideal of a just man. Maybe still does not grasp the deep mystery, but his heart is big and just man, does not obey the requirements of the laws of purity. His justice is greater. Later Jesus says: "Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 5:20). The size of human
Joseph Maria preferring to their offspring, choosing love instead of the generation says that it is possible to love without possessing.
vv. 20-21: But while he thought on these things, behold, an angel appeared in his dream the Lord and said: "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife, because what is conceived in her by the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son and you shall call his name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. " Joseph continues to think, act according to what he has inside, and that shows in his sleep at liberty: Joseph, the right man has the same dreams of God, his word speaks in his sleep of other words. Enter the dream of God reveals to be children. You discover the deeper dimensions of life and events. For Joseph there is something more, a solemn appeal: "Joseph, son of David." Resent this title again, but only to Jesus (cf. Mt 1:1; 9.27, 20.30 ff.). Giuseppe happens in the awakening and the hopes of the prophecy of Nathan to David, you really do. The heir promises from the Word is called to receive the gift with determination and freedom. He is called by God with that sweet word "Fear not. Even in the creation of Adam came to this word, unfortunately his response was: "I was afraid" (Gen 3:10). Joseph does not listen to fear and instead becomes a true father of Jesus is the beginning of the new heaven and new earth, announced by Isaiah (Is 65:17). For him it is really the primacy of love: to accept the gift that Mary and her door to let the word that wakes deep secret dream that is God himself.
We note that the son of Mary will receive two names. In this verse we read a common name: It comes Jesus the Greek form of the Hebrew name Yeshua or Yeshu, which are the short form of Joshua. The original meaning of Joshua was probably "Jwhw helps." But the name has been linked to the Hebrew root which means' save '(ys') and match them, "God saves." It is the name of God, its reality for those who call upon him: "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:21). There is salvation in no one else (Acts 4:12), because it is the name by which each name comes to life. He will save His people from their sins. This expression must be interpreted in light of the teachings contained in the Old Testament, in which we find that expression, "will save his people, "referring to God himself. In fact, in the book of the prophet Zechariah we read: "The Lord their God in that day will save his people like sheep, will shine like gems in a tiara on his land" (Zech 9:16). The phrase of Matthew, also intends to say that this baby is going to be born will be God himself.
vv. 22-23: All of this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son who will be called Emmanuel, meaning God with us. This verse is quoted Isaiah 7:14, where the king has promised a son, a guarantee of fidelity God is a sign that the king did not dare to ask God and instead wants to give him. The Gospel (Matthew 1.18-25, Lk 1:26-38) consider the virginal conception of a divine work that surpasses all human understanding and possibility (Lk 1:34): "That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit, "said the angel to Joseph about Mary, his wife (1.20). In the prophecy of Isaiah
It also contains a confidence in God not to trust God, as in this case, the behavior of Ahaz, is an old story that repeats itself regularly, but despite this, God continues to offer his light and his salvation to the individual and to all humanity, at all times. The sign
that is given is intended to indicate that God is on the side of man, as we understand from the second name given to the child, Emmanuel, meaning God with us. In output from Egypt, the Exodus, God descends beside the oppressed people and tells Moses: "I will be with you" (Exodus 3:12) and from that moment on, does not abandon his people more. Jesus is "God - that - prejudice" because it is "God - with - us." And if God is with us and for us, who can be against us (cf. Rom 8:32 ff)? "With" means relationship, intimacy, marriage, comfort, joy, stress. He is always with us, with us (28:20).
v. 24: woke from sleep, Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his bride. Sleep Joseph turns. The Word of God transforms the doubts and dreams is a sign of an awakening, a resurrection.
The resurrection comes after a long trial. Joseph seems to imitate his bride digs into the well of the heart to receive the Child. The reception of the child is the warmth of his mother. Maria leaves the house and surrendered to God and goes to the house of a man said yes. Mary is the woman yes, but its the first one said to Joseph, the angel is already the promise, already bound, already in love. Joseph
door Mary in his house. Home is where God comes next, comes closer, it is first and foremost through the faces of the people who put us next, we look first of all through the eyes of the people living next to us.
The Gospel in the mind of the Church Fathers
The evangelist Matthew describes in a few words but with the full truth about the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God before all ages, appeared in time as the son of man, descending from the generation of fathers with Abraham to Joseph, husband of Mary. It agreed in every way that God, wanting to become a man of love for men, if not born of a virgin; because it could not happen that a virgin gave birth to the other that the Son of God "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son who will be called Immanuel, which means God with us (Isaiah 7:14). The name by which the prophet calls the Saviour "God with us", signifies the two natures of Christ in the person of the Son of God Born of the Father before time, in the fullness of times is now in the womb of the Mother 'Emmanuel, God with us, deigned to take on our fragile nature of the unity of his person when "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (Jn 1:14), that began to be in so wonderful that we are, without ceasing to be what he was and took human nature in order not to lose her. Mary gave birth to her firstborn Son, that is, the Son of her womb, gave birth to him that before the creation was God born of God, and his humanity was created on top of each creature. "She named him Jesus" (Matt. 1:25). So Jesus is the name of the Son of the Virgin Mary, proclaimed by the angel, meaning that he would save his people from their sins. One who saves from sin save you also from the disorder resulting from the sins in body and soul.
The word Christ means the priestly or royal dignity. The priests in the Law and the kings were called "bastards" from "chrism", that anointing with holy oil: it was a sign of him that when he appears in the world as the true King and the Pope, was "anointed with oil of gladness in preference of his equals "(Ps 44.8). From this anointing, that is, baptism, hence the word "Christ" and those involved in the anointing of him, that his spiritual grace, are called "Christians."
Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Savior, is worthy to save us from sins, he is the pope, reconciled us with God the Father, give us the eternal kingdom of his Father and he is the King who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen. (From "Homilies" of St. Bede the Venerable, priest)
In fact, Mary gave birth without the assistance of a man. Just as at the origin, Eve from Adam was born without that there was carnal encounter, also happened to Joseph and Mary, his virgin bride. Eva gave birth to Cain `s murderess, Mary the Reviver. That gave birth to him who shed the blood of his brother (cf. Gen 4.1 to 16), this man whose blood was shed by his brothers. That saw the one who trembled and fled because of the curse of the earth (cf. Gen 4.10 to 14), this man who, having taken upon himself the curse, nailed to the cross (cf. Col 2:14). Conception of the Virgin Mary who teaches us that, without binding of flesh, has given birth to Adam taking it out of the virgin land, also formed no bond of flesh the second Adam in the womb of the Virgin. The first Adam was returned to his mother's womb by the second Adam, who returned there, who was buried in his mother's womb, it was taken. Maria tried to convince Joseph that his conception was the work of the Spirit, but he did not believe her, because it was unusual. To see her despite her pregnancy, a calm attitude, "he, in his justice, he did not denounce it openly" (Matt. 1:19), but this was not more willing to accept, as a husband, because he thought it was united to another. So he decided "in his righteousness," not to take it, but not slander. Thus "an angel appeared and said: Joseph, son of David" (Mt 1.20). Wonderful thing that you call him, too, "son of David!", Reminding him the first of his forebears, David, to whom God had promised that "the fruits of her womb" (Psalm 132.11) would have raised the Messiah according to meat.
"Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what is in her is of the Holy Spirit" (Mt 1.20). And if you doubt the unattached carnal conception of the Virgin, listen to the words of Isaiah: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive" (Isaiah 7:14). And those of Daniel: "The stone was cut without the help of hands" (Dan 2:34). It is not this `other word:" Look at the mountains and the wells "(Is 51.1). Here, in fact, it is of man and woman, and there, however, it is said: "Without the help of hands." Just as, for Eve, Adam had served as father and mother, also Mary to our Lord. (Ephraim, Diatessaron, 2, 2s.)
Some questions for personal reflection and comparison
What respect before the mystery of God? We, too, we realize that God intervenes in our lives, our history or do we want to flee in secret?
We trust God? Or renew the ancient history?
We believe that we are called to paternity (or maternity) of God?
We have experienced in our lives (even in married life) how God messes up our plans?
Praying
silent pause to contemplate that route from Nazareth to Bethlehem becoming aware, by faith, in that we, today, the Lord is Emmanuel: God with us. We respond with Ps 23:
The Lord's is the earth and its fullness:
the world, with its inhabitants.
is he who founded the seas and rivers
has established.
Who may ascend the hill of the Lord?
Who shall stand in his holy place?
man with clean hands and pure heart, who does not
turns to the idols.
He shall receive blessings from the Lord, the God of his salvation
justice.
are the men who seek him,
seek the face of the God of Jacob.
contemplative act
Joseph becomes a father at the time that obeys, which relies on all the word of God that we too are called to fatherhood, to generate Jesus
0 comments:
Post a Comment