The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate our expectations for messianic transformation in our lives as we seek to incorporate the message and traditions of Christmas as guidance for our journey.
Christmas Traditions
The reading from the Prophet Jeremiah foresees the Righteous Branch of David.
* [23:1–8] With the false rulers (shepherds) who have governed his people the Lord contrasts himself, the true shepherd, who will in the times of restoration appoint worthy rulers (vv. 1–4). He will provide a new king from David’s line who will rule justly, fulfilling royal ideals (vv. 5, 6). “The Lord our justice” is an ironic wordplay on the name of the weak King Zedekiah (“The Lord is justice”). Unlike Zedekiah, the future king will be true to the name he bears. Verses 7–8 may have been added during the exile.1
Psalm 72 is a prayer for Guidance and Support for the King.
* [Psalm 72] A royal Psalm in which the Israelite king, as the representative of God, is the instrument of divine justice (Ps 72:1–4, 12–14) and blessing (Ps 72:5–7, 15–17) for the whole world. The king is human, giving only what he has received from God. Hence intercession must be made for him. The extravagant language is typical of oriental royal courts.2
The Gospel of Matthew describes the role of Joseph in the Birth of Jesus, the Messiah.
* [1:18–25] This first story of the infancy narrative spells out what is summarily indicated in Mt 1:16. The virginal conception of Jesus is the work of the Spirit of God. Joseph’s decision to divorce Mary is overcome by the heavenly command that he take her into his home and accept the child as his own. The natural genealogical line is broken but the promises to David are fulfilled; through Joseph’s adoption the child belongs to the family of David. Matthew sees the virginal conception as the fulfillment of Is 7:14.3
John Shea, S.J. comments that we like predictability, especially at Christmas when surrounded by our friends and family. Today’s readings remind us that the Christmas story was anything but predictable.
Instead, Matthew tells us the story of Mary, betrothed to Joseph, but not yet living with him. Despite this, Mary is “found with child through the Holy Spirit” which suggests infidelity to Joseph. Infidelity at that time was punishable by stoning. Can this really be the origin story of a mighty king? Did our Messiah really have such an inauspicious beginning? The angel reassures Joseph that Jesus will rescue his people from sin and will be called Emmanuel, meaning “God is with us.” This is the long-awaited Messiah. And we know that Jesus will be born in a manger and will be crucified. Nothing about this Christmas story is predictable. Most of us experienced an unpredictable and uncertain Christmas in 2020 and we may face the same situation this year. Perhaps we can see this as an invitation to share in and relive the unpredictability of the original Christmas story.4
Don Schwager quotes “The righteous branch of David is Christ,” by Leo the Great, 400-461 A.D.
"There was only one remedy in the secret of the divine plan that could help the fallen living in the general ruin of the entire human race (Jeremiah 23:5-8). This remedy was that one of the sons of Adam should be born free and innocent of original transgression, to prevail for the rest by his example and by his merits. This was not permitted by natural generation. There could be no clean offspring from our faulty stock by this seed. The Scripture says, 'Who can make a clean thing conceived of an unclean seed? Isn't it you alone?' (Job 14:4) David's Lord was made David's Son, and from the fruit of the promised branch sprang. He is one without fault, the twofold nature coming together into one person. By this one and the same conception and birth sprung our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom was present both true Godhead for the performance of mighty works and true manhood for the endurance of sufferings." (excerpt from Sermon 28.3)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 1:18-25 comments that as his earthly father, Joseph, first embodied for Jesus the attributes of his heavenly Father. Imagine the impact that must have had! Jesus saw him generously put aside his own concerns to care for his family. He saw him remain steadfast despite the twists and turns of fate. He saw him living in faithfulness to God’s word. Such humility and courage must have been a compelling example!
Joseph is an example for us too. Look to him the next time you face an uncertain path, whether it’s a major life change, like becoming a parent, or a small beginning, like a new day with its unexpected challenges and opportunities. Then ask him to pray for you to have the same strength and courage that he showed. “St. Joseph, Guardian of the Redeemer, pray for us!”6
Friar Jude Winkler notes the departure from condemnation of Judah in the text from Jeremiah that declares a return from captivity greater than the Exodus. The “righteous man” Joseph acts and redefines compassion in response to an encounter with an angel in his dreams. Friar Jude reminds us of the richness in the Tradition and translations surrounding “God is with us”.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments on Mindfulness to Heartfulness in devotional practices that have opened believers’ hearts for millennia, and we now understand the mind-body-heart connection within us in a deeper way. Researcher and therapist Dr. Alane Daugherty suggests a body-based practice to create a sense of heartfelt awareness.
The force of deep love, compassion and other heartfelt emotions can literally unite our brain, our heart, and all of the cells in our body. By experiencing what these heartfelt states are like inside of us we can then activate the dormant impulses, cultivate them, and embody them in an integrated way of being. This union feels harmonious and expansive; like we are all at once in touch with the depths of our being, and connected to a much larger way of living. Done intentionally and routinely they form an even greater union, become our primary way of operating, and profoundly change our world and us. . . . [Heartful awareness] is the momentary choice, moment after moment, to let our truest sense emerge into our lived reality and intersect with the outside world. It allows us to be the best that we can be, in whatever we do. . . .7
As we prepare for Christmas, we are invited to compare our sense of fullness in life to the redefinition of compassion, mercy, and charity presented by Jesus that is counter to dominant themes in our culture.
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