Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt

Chapter 7
HEROD WANTED TO USE THE MAGI for his evil designs. When they failed to return to him and had disappeared from sight, he was sure a conspiracy was afoot to dethrone him. He acted quickly and ruthlessly. Immediate death for all boys of Jesus' age in the region of Bethlehem was Herod's plan. But God was protecting His Son. After the departure of the Magi, Joseph was visited in a dream by an angel who informed him of Herod's evil plan and commanded him to leave immediately with Jesus and Mary for Egypt, the traditional refuge of persecuted Jews. "Arise, and take the Child and His mother, and flee into Egypt, and remain there until I tell thee. For Herod will seek the child to destroy him."
As head of the Holy Family, Joseph received this message and proceeded at once to carry out the direction given him. He wakened Mary and they left with the Christ Child while it was yet night. The journey from Palestine to Egypt was a long and arduous one, about 250 miles; but they made it in safety.
The murderous agents of Herod did their work in Bethlehem; the male infants were slaughtered. It was a small town, and the number of slain children was probably about twenty. These first to shed their blood for Christ have become known to later centuries as the Holy Innocents.
The security bought by Herod with the blood of innocent children did not profit him for long. A strange sickness soon overtook him which slowly and torturously led him to death.
Again, in the place of his exile in Egypt, an angel of the
Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him, "Arise, and
take the child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel,
for those who sought the child's life are dead." Again promptly
obeying the heavenly command, Joseph recrossed the desert
between Egypt and Palestine with Mary and her Son. Upon
their arrival in southern Israel, however, he learned that Herod's cruel son Archelaus was reigning in Judea, and he was
afraid to return to Bethlehem. Receiving a warning in another
dream, he withdrew instead to the north, to Galilee, and settled in Nazareth.

The angel did not appear to Mary; she had received no direct message about a danger to Jesus' life. In such extraordinary circumstances, she might have questioned the need for flight, at least for so long a flight and so sudden a departure. Yet she arose and left immediately, so soon as Joseph informed her that they were to flee. Mary's obedience to God's will was prompt, whether God spoke to her through His solemn commandments, or through the voice of Joseph. Do we take the same generous attitude toward God's will, or do we try at times to evade our obligations?

Adoration of the Magi

Chapter 6
MATTHEW 2:1-12
WHERE IS THE NEWLY BORN KING of the Jews?" inquired a group of Magi, or wise men, who came to Jerusalem from the East some time after the Christ Child's birth. "For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." They expected Him to be in a royal palace in the capital.
Their arrival and announcement stirred the whole city, and King Herod's agents were not slow in warning him of this latest possible threat to his crown. He immediately summoned the chief priests and Scribes and asked them where the Christ was to be born. They informed him: "In Bethlehem of Judea; for thus it is written by the prophet, 'And thou, Bethlehem, of the land of Juda, art by no means least among the princes of Juda; for from thee shall come forth a leader who shall rule my people Israel.' "
Then sending secretly for the Magi, Herod carefully inquired of them the exact time of the star's appearance; and pretending to be desirous of adding his own adoration to theirs, he encouraged them in their search for the new King and admonished them to inform him of their success.
Resuming their journey, the Magi were overjoyed to see again the star that had prompted their pilgrimage. It went before them until it came to rest over a house where the Child was. Entering, they found Him with His mother. Their first act was one of worship, ". . . falling down they adored Him." Then, as Orientals scarcely ever visit a superior without offering gifts, they set before the Infant Christ presents of the most precious products of their country: gold, frankincense and myrrh.
These men, the first gentiles to pay homage to Christ, did not remain long in Bethlehem. They could not. They had been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, and a delay in hearing from them would be sure to arouse the suspicion of the distrustful king. So they promptly returned to their own country by another route, probably by going south, away from Jerusalem, around the lower end of the Dead Sea.

Herod pretended to be religious; he pretended he wanted to honor the new born King. His real purpose was to make his own position secure. No thought of honoring another entered his mind. His words to the Magi were lies. At times we can be like Herod: we can perform our religious duties, not because we want to honor God, but because of less worthy motives, perhaps even out of human respect. Why did I go to Mass last Sunday?

Presentation of Christ in the Temple

Chapter 5
LUKE 2:22-38
ACCORDING TO THE MOSAIC LAW, a mother had to remain at home for forty days after the birth of a son. When Mary's "days of purification" were over, she and Joseph took the Child to Jerusalem, to fulfill two prescriptions of the Mosaic Law. The mother was to offer a sacrifice of two turtledoves, one as a purification offering, the other as a thanksgiving offering. And the first-born son had to be bought back from the Lord for five shekels.
When the Holy Family had carried out these prescriptions
of the Law, Simeon, a just, God-fearing man, approached
them. The Holy Spirit had promised him that he should not
die before seeing the Messiah, and drew him this day into
the temple. He took into his arms the Child he knew to be the
Messiah and uttered a canticle of thanksgiving: "Now Thou
dost dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word, in
peace; because my eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou
hast prepared before the face of all peoples; a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and a glory for Thy people Israel."
Mary and Joseph marveled at the old man's words and at the manifestations God joined to the mysteries of the holy infancy. Simeon called down the blessings of heaven on the pair, and knowing that men could not be neutral toward Christ, said to Mary, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and for the rise of many in Israel, and for a sign that shall be contradicted. And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
The aged Simeon was followed by Anna, a prophetess. Her husband had died seven years after their marriage, and since that time she had passed her days in the service of the Lord in the temple. Meeting the Holy Family, she began to praise the Lord and spoke of the Child to all who were awaiting His coming.
Having fulfilled the requirements of the law of purification, Mary and Joseph returned with the Child Jesus to Bethlehem, where the Holy Family had been living since the Nativity.

Simeon was "just and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel." Anna was a woman who "never left the temple, with fastings and prayers worshipping night and day." Others were more worldly, more "successful," more important, better known. These two were simple, humble, unpretentious. But they, rather than the high priest and the officials, had the privilege of welcoming Christ. Whom do we imitate, the simple and humble Simeon and Anna, or the more worldly, the more important?

Birth of Christ

Chapter 4
LUKE 2:1-21
THIS TIME, Caesar Augustus decreed that a census of all his subjects should be taken. Because Joseph was of the house and family of David, he had to go to Bethlehem, the town of David in Judea, to register. Mary accompanied him on this journey from Nazareth in the north to Bethlehem in the south, a distance of about seventy-five miles.
Bethlehem was crowded and the holy pair could find no place to stay but a hillside cave. Here the Christ Child was born. Mary wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, a trough for feeding animals, which she had made ready.
There were shepherds in the district keeping the night watch over their flocks in the field. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared in their midst, illuminating the field with a heavenly brightness, and the shepherds became frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which shall be to all the people; for there has been born to you today in the town of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign to you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."
Immediately a host of angels appeared and filled the air with their exultant song of praise, "Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth among men of good will."
When the angels were gone, the shepherds said, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us."
Hastening to the manger, they found the baby with His mother and Joseph. Seeing the holy trio, the shepherds understood the message given them by the angel, and returning, glorified God in their praise of all that had been given them to see and hear. And everyone to whom they told the happenings of this night, marveled at the news. Our Lady kept in mind all these wonderful things, pondering them in her heart.
After eight days the Child was circumcised and received the name Jesus, as the angel had directed.

God's ways are not man's ways. For the coming of the King of Kings we would have prepared a warm house, a comfortable bed, helpful servants, the best conveniences. God allowed Him to be born in a cave and to be laid in a manger. Therein lies a lesson for us. How concerned should we be with the comforts of life, we may ask. If Christ, who could have had anything, chose this kind of birth, creature comforts cannot be so important as we usually consider them. How much value do I place on comfort and luxury in my own life?

The Visit of Mary to Elizabeth

Chapter 3
LUKE 1:39-56; MATT.1:18-25
AFTER LEARNING from the angel Gabriel that her cousin Elizabeth was with child, Mary hastened to visit her that she might be of service to her during this time.
Arriving at Zachary's village home in the hills of Judea, Our Lady saluted Elizabeth who, upon hearing the greeting, felt the infant in her womb leap for joy. She herself was immediately filled with the Holy Spirit and, in a burst of prophetic enthusiasm, cried out: "Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb! And how have I deserved that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, the moment that the sound of thy greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leapt for joy. And blessed is she who has believed, because the things promised her by the Lord shall be accomplished."
At these inspired words of Elizabeth, Mary's spirit was lifted into ecstasy and she, too, sang a song of praise: "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid; for, behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed; because He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name; and for generation upon generation His mercy is to those who fear Him. He has shown might with His arm, He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has given help to Israel, His servant, mindful of His mercy—even as He spoke to our fathers —to Abraham and to his posterity forever."
Mary remained about three months, until the birth of John. Joseph, when he learned Mary was with child, planned to break off their engagement quietly. But an angel came to him in a dream and told him to take Mary as his wife, for the child she was to bear was from the Holy Spirit. Obeying this inspiration, he at once completed the marriage arrangements and took her into his home.

In the life of Mary her love for God overflowed into a love for men. God was her only love. But it included God's creatures also. Service to her cousin Elizabeth was a manifestation of Mary's love for God. We cannot claim to love God unless that love extends also to God's creatures, our fellow men. Does our helpfulness to our friends and acquaintances who are in trouble reflect the same love that Mary showed in the Visitation?

Annunciation of the Birth of Christ

Chapter 2
LUKE 1:26-38

THROUGH THE CENTURIES God kept His promise of a Redeemer before the minds of men by means of His prophets: Malachias, Daniel, Micheas, Isaias, Osee. The Jewish people were familiar with their prophecies and eagerly awaited the fulfillment of their words. Anticipation deepened as the time drew near.
In the little town of Nazareth, hidden away in Galilee, the northern part of Palestine, lived the young girl destined to be the virgin mother of the Messiah. She was Mary, a maiden of about thirteen years, the only child of Joachim and Anne. Her betrothed was Joseph, one of her countrymen, a lowly artisan but a member of the royal race of David, from which she, too, was sprung.
At the divinely decreed hour, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, greeting her: "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women." Mary pondered the meaning of this greeting and was troubled by it.
Gabriel hastened to reassure her with the words: "Do not be afraid, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. And behold, thou shall conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call His name Jesus."
Mary did not doubt that the angel's words would be fulfilled, but inquired how this would be accomplished since she had resolved to remain a virgin. "How shall this happen, since I do not know man?" The angel responded, "The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee; and therefore the Holy One to be born shall be called the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth thy kinswoman also has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month; for nothing shall be impossible with God."
And Our Lady answered, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word." And Gabriel departed.
At that moment God became incarnate and took up His abode with men. Prophecies became realities. The work of redemption had begun.

For centuries men had been waiting for the Incarnation. This event was the central event of all history. Yet God made its accomplishment depend upon the consent of Mary. He did not order her to become the mother of God; He asked her. Similarly, in dealing with us, God usually asks. He orders us to obey His and His Church's commandments, but He asks much more than that. Will we agree like Mary, or will we do only what is ordered?

Annunciation of the Birth of John the Baptist

Chapter I
LUKE 1:5-25

ZACHARY AND ELIZABETH, old and childless, were a holy couple, "walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord." Both longed to have a son; both prayed often that God would give them a child. And both hoped also for the coming of the long awaited Savior of Israel.
Zachary was a priest of the Jewish religion. On this occasion his office was to burn incense at the golden altar in the temple at Jerusalem. As he went about his duties, an angel appeared to him; and, when Zachary began to fear, the angel said: "Do not be afraid, Zachary, for thy petition has been heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son and thou shall call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth."
The son announced by the angel was to be John the Baptist. Of him the angel prophesied: "He shall be great before the Lord; he shall drink no wine or strong drink, and shall be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb.
And many of the children of Israel he shall bring back to the Lord their God, and he shall himself go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the incredulous to the wisdom of the just; to prepare for the Lord a perfect people."
Thinking of his and of his wife's advanced age, Zachary doubted the truth of the angel's prophecy. "How shall I know this?" he asked. "For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years." Thereupon, the angel identified himself: "I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I have been sent to speak to thee and to bring thee this good news."
For his doubt, Zachary was struck dumb. "Behold thou shalt be dumb," the angel said, "and unable to speak until the day when these things come to pass, because thou hast not believed my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."
Zachary, now unable to speak, left the temple. The encounter with the angel Gabriel fresh in his mind, he returned shortly to his home. As the angel had foretold, his wife Elizabeth conceived a child in her old age.

Before the unmistakable word of God, spoken through the mouth of Gabriel, Zachary was doubtful. He hesitated to believe that God could give a child even to the old and barren Elizabeth. For that he was struck dumb. The Scriptures are a letter from God to us, His message of hope and His directions for our life. Will we accept them? Are we doubters, like Zachary?

The Life of Jesus

Part I
THE INFANCY AND EARLY LIFE OF JESUS

This is almost certainly the best known part of Christ's life. Each Christmas, in picture and word and song, the world recalls the story of His coming. The central event of this period is the Annunciation to Mary that she is to be the mother of the Messiah; central because in the instant of her acceptance the Word was made flesh, the Redeemer entered into the world of men. From her home in Nazareth Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth in a little town in Judea, identified as the modern Ain-Karim. After the birth of Elizabeth's son, John the Baptist, Mary returned to Nazareth and became the wife of Joseph. Their home was soon disrupted, as they complied with a public decree and journeyed to Bethlehem, their family city, to register for a census. Here the Christ Child was born; and here, after His Presentation in the temple, the Magi from the east came to adore Him. This auspicious visit occasioned the slaughter by Herod of all the male infants of Bethlehem, a debacle from which the Holy Family escaped by fleeing into northern Egypt. They returned after the death of Herod and settled in Nazareth. There follows a thirty-year period of tranquil growth, on which the gospels are silent except for an incident related by Saint Luke: when Jesus was twelve years old He went with Mary and Joseph to Jerusalem for the Passover and was there lost for three days, a brief but poignant separation.