Prepare O Bethlehem - The Inn, The Cave, The Purpose & The Message

Today heaven and earth are united for Christ is born

Today God has come to earth and man ascends to heaven

Today, God who by nature cannot be seen,

Is seen in the flesh for our sake.

Let us glorify Him, crying:

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

Thy coming has brought peace to us:

Glory to Thee, our Savior!

- Stikhera on the Litya Great Compline for Christmas

(Eastern Orthodox Church)

And she gave birth to her first born Son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ Jesus

As we celebrate the feast of Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, I would love to share some thoughts that have been in my mind. This is my Christmas message to you all for this year. The message might seem quite long, but I assure you that you will surely enjoy the read.

THE INN

In the Nativity story, a woman who was about to give birth to a child, and her betrothed, went from inn to inn, asking for lodging and help. There was no room in any inn.  But even more poignant, there was no room in anyone’s heart to extend charity and help to a woman at her moment of delivery.  How could a city so filled with people not have had even one room, even one bit of charity for someone in need?  Never mind that this woman was not just anyone, but God’s chosen vessel for our salvation.

In the Mexican culture, there is a Christmas-time tradition called Las Posadas.  In this tradition, a couple dressed up as Mary and Joseph go from home to home, asking if there is any room at “the inn”.  Each home takes on the role of an inn in Bethlehem.  They are rebuffed each time until they reach the home that has been designated as “the inn,” at which point they are allowed in and a celebration ensues.

Imagine your heart as an inn—there are lots of rooms in it as there would be at an inn.  At many inns, there are economy rooms, rooms with a view, rooms with a balcony, perhaps even a penthouse, or top floor room.   Some rooms are more expensive and more lavish, others more simple.

The inn of your heart is similar.  There are things in life, like relationships or family, that tug at our heart strings, and they often get the biggest rooms at the inn of our hearts.  Careers get large rooms as well. Material possessions occupy space.  So do our friends.   Hobbies and things that bring us joy have a place, perhaps a smaller room, but there is still a place for them.  Friday nights out with friends, Saturdays in front of the TV watching sports, the Sunday afternoon barbecue, they all find accommodations.   Hopefully one’s heart is big enough that there is a room for charity.  The question for today is which room does the Lord get in your heart?  Is it the biggest one?  Or the economy room?  Is there a room for prayer? Worship? Charity?  Are these rooms well-kept or in need of a remodel?

If your heart or your life is like an inn in Bethlehem, is there room in your inn for the Lord, or have all the spaces been filled with other things?  In order to have Christ in your life, there needs to be not only room in “your inn,” but the committed Christian offers Christ the best room, the first portion, of your life. The committed Christian has a rooms for charity, for prayer, for scripture reading, for obedience to the commandments.  As we journey through Advent and prepare to celebrate the Nativity, it is a good time to clean the rooms of your heart and of your life, to make sure there is room for Christ in them.

Because just as they do at Las Posadas in Mexico, Christ comes to knock on the door of your heart every day.  Do we turn Him away, saying there is no room at the inn, that all the rooms have been filled with other “things”?  Or do we welcome Him with joy?  Do we give Him the economy room?  Or do we give Him the biggest and the best?  Spend some time today evaluating how you spend your time.  And reflect seriously on which rooms Christ occupies in the inn of your heart.  Just like they upgrade rooms at hotels for special guests, consider giving an upgrade in your heart to Christ, the most special guest of all.

THE CAVE

In every Nativity story that we have heard or every Icon that we see which shows the scene in Bethlehem, we know that when Mary and Joseph searched for a place to stay and help, they are told that there are no rooms available. They are, however, told that there is a stable out back and are shown to a stable where the animals are kept, where Jesus is born and laid in a manger. Every Nativity scene appearing under every Christmas tree shows a barn with straw roof and wooden walls with Jesus lying in the manger.

Yet, every Orthodox icon shows Jesus Christ incarnate in a cave, in the desert, outside of Bethlehem. Why a cave? Why not the traditionally depicted stable or barn?

We are not told in scripture whether the birth took place in a barn or a cave, only that there was no room in the inn.  There are two reasons that a cave is shown in Orthodox icons, rather than a barn.  The first is actually historical.  At the time of the Nativity, animals were not kept sheltered in wooden barns, but in caves and recesses in the hills.  The second is symbolic—the cave that is shown in the icons is traditionally surrounded by sharp and steep rocks, which represent the cruel world into which Jesus was Incarnate.  The space inside the cave looks peaceful and welcoming.  The cave represents heaven.  It is a peaceful respite from the world.

There is an icon that shows the cave, with the manger and the baby Jesus, with just the animals surrounding the manger and the star overhead. The theme of this icon is “Creation worships the Creator.”  The significance of the feast of the Nativity is that the Creator came to live with His creation.  And not only was there no room in any inn, but there was no room in any place made by human hands to hold the Creator of those hands.  So, the Creator came to be part of His creation in a cave He Himself created.

In the last reflection, it was mentioned that in icons, the manger is depicted symbolically as a tomb.  Historically, the manger was the wooden trough from where the animals were eating.  Most likely it would have been filled with hay, which horses were eating.  Again, there was no bed made by human beings that could hold the Creator.  So, He was laid on straw, in wood that He created.  His birth also reflects the most humble of beginnings.  And it begins a ministry where Jesus would tell His followers:  “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.  For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve.”  (Mark 10: 43-45)

The cave reflects peace, surrounded by danger.  The manger shows humility.  Later on, when we discuss how all of creation worshiped and brought gifts to the Creator in its midst, we will note that the earth itself worshiped the Creator, and for a gift, the earth offered a cave.

For today, examine peace and humility in your life.  Does your life favor what is grandiose or simple?  Are you more boastful or humble?  If the cave reflects peace surrounded by danger, are you able to find inner peace in a life that is continually dangerous?  Or have you succumbed to the dangers of the world?  Today’s verse is an important reminder of what is truly important—the virtues of peace and humility will go a long way in helping you grow as a Christian this Advent and far beyond it.

THE PURPOSE

If you look closely at many icons of the Nativity, you will notice that the manger is not a straw-filled wooden trough as we see in most Nativity displays around town.  Rather, it resembles a casket or tiny tomb.  The swaddling bands are not like the large cloth that we swaddle our children with, but rather are the burials band used to bind the bodies of the dead.  Why do the icons depict this?  It’s to make clear from the beginning the purpose of the Incarnation of Christ.  His purpose in coming to be among us was to die for our sins.  It all leads to the Cross and the Tomb.  This is the reason Christ came to earth.  This is the reason God incarnated His Only-Begotten Son.

When you enroll in high school or college, what year do they label your class?  It’s the year you are scheduled to graduate.  I entered college for my masters in 2010.  I went in as the class of 2012, which ended up being the year I finished.  And why do schools label classes by the year they finish, rather than the year they start?  Because when you go to school, the purpose for your attendance is in order to finish.  So, even from the first day of school, the focus is on the last.  Sure, the journey is long, and fun, and important, but the focus of the journey is its end, not the journey itself, certainly not the beginning of it. is the reason God incarnated His Only-Begotten Son

.

Our Christian life is the same. God’s purpose in putting us here is so we can GRADUATE from this life, into eternal life.  No one can get to heaven if they haven’t lived on earth.  Just like no one can graduate from college if they never spend a day in school.  So, every day of our life, there should be a thought given to eternal life.  This is why we hear at every Divine Liturgy (and in the daily vespers), a petition that speaks to us of “A Christian end to our lives, peaceful without shame and suffering and a good defense before the awesome judgment seat of Christ,” so that this thought of our destination inspires how we spend our present journey.

So, take some time every day, whether it is Christmas, or Advent, or the middle of summer, to work on your salvation, think about where you are headed for eternal life.  So many people plan for retirement, but not for eternity.  Spend time each day through prayer, meditation on scripture, obedience to the commandments and charity towards others.  Spend a lifetime doing that and you will be in good shape for that accounting at the awesome judgment seat of Christ.

The Resurrection couldn’t happen without the Nativity.  However, the Nativity without the Resurrection would make Christ into an incredible teacher and healer, but not our Savior.   An incredible life without Christ is just that, an incredible life that will one day come to an end.  A life with Christ and a life in Christ is like going to school—you will be there for a while, you will even make good memories and have good times, but one day you will graduate to something bigger and better.

The purpose of Christ’s Incarnation is apparent from the Nativity.  God’s purpose for our life is apparent from our birth as well! to the dangers of the world?  Today’s verse is an important reminder of what is truly important—the virtues of peace and humility will go a long way in helping you grow as a Christian this Advent and far beyond it.

Before Your birth, O Lord, the hosts of angels already perceived the mystery.  They were struck with wonder and trembled, for though You adorn the heavens with stars, You are now well-pleased to be born as a Babe.  You hold the ends of the earth in Your hands, but now You are laid in a manger of dumb beasts.  Yet all these things fulfilled Your saving plan, by which Your compassion was revealed to us.  Christ of great mercy, glory to You!

So, take some time every day, whether it is Christmas, or Advent, or the middle of summer, to work on your salvation, think about where you are headed for eternal life.  So many people plan for retirement, but not for eternity.  Spend time each day through prayer, meditation on scripture, obedience to the commandments and charity towards others.  Spend a lifetime doing that and you will be in good shape for that accounting at the awesome judgment seat of Christ.

The Resurrection couldn’t happen without the Nativity.  However, the Nativity without the Resurrection would make Christ into an incredible teacher and healer, but not our Savior.   An incredible life without Christ is just that, an incredible life that will one day come to an end.  A life with Christ and a life in Christ is like going to school—you will be there for a while, you will even make good memories and have good times, but one day you will graduate to something bigger and better.

The purpose of Christ’s Incarnation is apparent from the Nativity.  God’s purpose for our life is apparent from our birth as well! to the dangers of the world?  Today’s verse is an important reminder of what is truly important—the virtues of peace and humility will go a long way in helping you grow as a Christian this Advent and far beyond it.

THE MESSAGE

I’m sure during the period of the census in Bethlehem, there were people from all walks of life, all economic classes.  There were well-to-do people who got the most expensive rooms in the most expensive inns, who rode the best donkeys and camels.  With so many people descending on Bethlehem for the census, there were undoubtedly parties and family gatherings, reunions of friends, loud music, dancing and good food.

The shepherds were among the poorest of the people.  They were not part of the Bethlehem social scene.  Their work was done around the clock, in anonymity, with little compensation.  I’m sure very few parents of the time dreamed for their children to be shepherds.

Yet, God chose these “poor shepherds” (the First Noel) to hear the good news.  He chose to bless the shepherds to hear a multitude of the heavenly angels singing God’s praises.  And when the Shepherds told people what they had heard and seen, in a sense, He chose them to become the first “evangelists,” the first to share the good news.

Why these Shepherds?  First, the message of Christ is for all people.  He didn’t take it to the high and mighty, but to the lowly.  Christ’s Nativity inaugurated the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, but He “reigns” with humility.  So the message was given first to the most humble of people, simple shepherds.  This is good news indeed, because the message of Christ IS for everyone.  And that does not include only every socio-economic level.  It includes every spiritual level:

If you’ve memorized the Christmas story or can’t remember most of the details, Christ’s message is for you.

If you read the Bible every day, or have never read it before, Christ’s message is for you!

If you pray every day, or if you’ve never said a genuine prayer, Christ’s message is for you!

If Christ is the focus of your life, or if you are just starting your relationship with Him, Christ’s message is for you!

Ok, so what is the message?  The answer comes from the shepherds as well.  One of the ways Christ reveals Himself is as “the Good Shepherd.”  In John 10: 11-15, we read:

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leave the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.  He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep.  I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, as the Father know me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

Jesus uses this image because all Christians are like a flock of sheep.  Jesus is our Shepherd.  Jesus protects the flock from “wolves” and all harm.  When one sheep is lost, like a good shepherd, He goes in search of the lost sheep.  Most important, like a good shepherd keeps his flock together until they get safely to their pen at the end of the day, Jesus keeps His flock together and provides for our safety until we reach the permanent safety of heaven at the end of our lives.

I hope that the images sticking in your mind are not the loud and raucous parties of Bethlehem, but the peace of the cave and the safety of the pen.  For many people, if you asked them where do you want to end up—a cave, a pen or a party—the answer most certainly would be the party.  The message of Christ is that we want to end up in the cave and safely in the pen.  It is in humility that we experience Christ.  The message is for everyone! 

Dear brethren, this Christmas, let us give room for Christ in our inns called life, welcoming Him to dwell in us. Let our hearts be like the cave where peace dwells.Wishing you all a very blessed Christmas.

Prepare O Bethlehem - Magi From the East

The wise men, kings from Persia

Perceived without any doubt 

That Thou was born on earth, O Heavenly King. 

Drawn by the light of a star, they hurried to Bethlehem. 

They offered Thee acceptable gifts:

Gold, myrrh, and frankincense. 

They fell down before Thee and worshipped Thee, 

Seeing Thee, the timeless One, 

Lying in the cave as an infant. 

- An immature translation of Mashiha Jaatham Cheytha and Tharaka Porasile, 

two hymns sung during the service of the Nativity of Jesus.

St. Matthew tells us that wise men from the East came beating gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the Christ child. In the medieval period, the tradition developed that there were three wise men whose names were Melchior, Casper and Balthasar. They later became subjects for the Christmas song "We Three Kings", which is often sung at Christmas tableaus and plays. Over a period of time, stories developed about the magi and their journeys. Some stories say that originally there were four wise men who came to see Jesus, however, along the way, one got lost. After many years of traveling, searching for the baby Jesus, the wise man found his way to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, he heard about a man who was being crucified that day, it was Jesus. 

Matthew does not specify the names of the wise men, nor does he mention that there are three, but only that wise men came from the East (Matthew 2:1-3, 10-12).The only details we have about the wise men are that they came seeking to worship the baby Jesus and that they saw the stat in the East, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy (Matthew 2:10). The fact that they are from the "east" and that they are "wise men" suggests that they are sages or astrologers from a Gentile background. In the ancient world, the sage or wise man, sometimes called a seer, was an adviser to the king or emperor. These people were the educated elite and were familiar with astrology as well as the natural sciences, literature and culture. Wise men or magi were usually connected with the royal palace.

Matthew also tells us that these wise men brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. These items may seem like strange gifts for a newborn child, but they have a specific function within the birth story and the Gospel narrative as a whole. Myrrh is very similar to a heavy perfume and was very expensive, only the wealthy could afford it. Myrrh was frequently used for preparing bodies for burial. We know from the four Gospels that the women came to the tomb in order to anoint Jesus' body (Mark 16:1. See also Luke 24:1 and John 19:39). In the Orthodox tradition these women are known as the myrrh bearing women.

Likewise, both gold and frankincense were also expensive materials and are frequently used in the ancient world. Gold, of course, was used by the wealthy in society, and frankincense is a type of incense which was burned as a fragrant offering as we hear at every Vesper service: "I call upon Thee, O Lord; make haste to me! Give ear to my voice, when I call to Thee! Let my prayer be counted as incense before Thee, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice!" (Psalm 141:2). The appearance of the magi at the birth story echoes an important passage in Isaiah, where he describes that all nations will come together in order to bow down and pay homage to the Lord Almighty. They will bring gold and incense to the Lord:

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you and His glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and Kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes round about, and see, they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried in the arms. Then you shall see and be radiant, your heart shall thrill and rejoice; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Epaph; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord. Ask the flocks of Nebaioth shall minister to you; they come in my altar, and I will glorify my glorious house.  (Isaiah 60:1-7)

The appearance of the wise men remind us that this birth is unlike other births, because the child is going to be the Savior of the World: "He will be great, and He will be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God will give to 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" (Luke 1:32-33). Thus, the gift of salvation is announced to both the Jews, who are represented in the birth story by the shepherds in the fields, and to the Gentiles, who are represented by the magi. Both the shepherds and the magi accept the invitation to see the Christ child, and both pay homage to Him. Matthew's birth story reminds us that the good news of salvation is offered to all peoples, or as Isaiah says, all nations. Hopefully, all nations will accept this wonderful invitation and view down to God's beloved Son Jesus.

John Hopkins Jr’s well known carol, “We Three Kings” narrates the giving of the gifts in first person. “Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain, gold I bring to crown him again, King forever, ceasing never, over us all to reign.” “Frankincense to offer have I; incense owns a Deity nigh; prayer and praising, voices raising, worshiping God on high.” “Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume breathes a life of gathering gloom; sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone-cold tomb.” The gifts were given precisely to indicate who Jesus Christ, Immanuel—“God With Us”—was and is and shall be.

Gold was given as a regal gift. It is the sign of Jesus’ kingship. Later, we would all come to realize that his Kingdom is not an earthly one, located in a geographical promised land, but that he came to rule over a fallen-but-restored-through-him re-creation, or re-capitulation of the Cosmos.

Frankincense was offered for his divinity. Early Christians often refused to pinch a bit of incense onto the charcoal for the Emperor—thereby rejecting imperial claims to divinity, and were martyred as a result. Incense is only offered to God—the main reason why we still offer it to him in every single church service, following Psalm 140/141: “Let my prayer arise in thy sight as incense, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”

Myrrh was placed at his feet to foreshadow his death on the Cross for the life of the world. Whereas every single person on the planet earth was created in order to live—the gift of God—only Jesus was born to die. And there is great and providential irony in this: we mortals were born to live and move and have our being without ceasing, but the Pre-eternal, ever-existing Word of God—he who hung the earth upon the waters—was born to hang on the cross!And following his death-by-crucifixion, he was taken down from this Tree of Life, and his body was wrapped in swaddling clothes once again, and anointed for burial with the fragrant myrrh, as was brought to him at his birth. Oh divine redemption!

Royalty, divinity, and death. These were the gifts offered as signs of the essence of Jesus Christ. As we celebrate the feast, adoring him, let us also enflesh the call of this ancient hymn and prayer:

Increase in us the talent of good deeds, that we may offer Thee fitting gifts: instead of gold, myrrh, and frankincense, we offer the service of loving hearts, praising the Giver of all good gifts who has come to be born of the virgin and child of God.

In the Ancient Christian Tradition we greet one another with a call and response:

Christ is Born!

Glorify Him!

Prepare O Bethlehem - Shepherds Keeping Watch

​

When the Lord Jesus was born of the holy virgin, 

The whole universe was filled with light. 

The shepherds watched in the fields. 

The wise men worshiped and the angels sang. 

But Herod was troubled, 

For God appeared in the flesh. 

He is the Savior of our souls! 

- Stikhera on Lord I Call vesperal, Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

If we ever go to mountainous regions of North India, we would be blessed to see lush green valleys with lots of sheep grazing around and shepherds keeping watch over their flock. Shepherds have a difficult road. Sheep need constant care and attention, and lots of food and water. They also have to be shorn regularly so that their coats so not get too thick. The shearing process is tedious, taking lot of manual labor and patience. The shorn will then has to be sent to the local miles for processing where it is turned into scarves, hats, sweaters, blankets and other textile products. Shepherding is not a high paying job, many shepherds supplement their jobs with farming or some other line of work.

While we may live in a modern society, the art of shadowing has seldom changed throughout the time. During Jesus' time, shepherding was a job for the poor. It takes vigilance, patience and lots of work. Interestingly, according to Luke, the angels first announce the glad tidings of the birth of the Savior to shepherds keeping watch in the fields. Thus, the Gospel first comes to the poor and lowly shepherds of Israel. 

However, shepherds are not always portrayed in the best of light in the Scriptures. The prophet Ezekiel speaks against the shepherds of Israel, who are considered leaders of the people, for not taking care of their flocks:

The word of the Lord came to me, "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, thus says the Lord, 'You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with wool, you slaughter the fatlings, but do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not healed, the crippled you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them'. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beats. My sheep were scattered, they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill; my sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them." (Ezekiel 34:1-4)

Ezekiel continues as he blames the shepherds for the woes of the poor and the destitute and blames the leaders for neglecting to take care of them. In other words, the shepherds are too busy taking care of themselves rather than taking care of those under their charge. 

This theme of shepherding is also developed within the New Testament. In the Gospel of John, Jesus is called the "good Shepherd", the one who leads His flock to pasture and who protects the flock even if it means sacrificing His own life. As a good Shepherd, Jesus cares for His flock as the shepherds in Ezekiel could not: "I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep" (John 10:11-13). While there are many shepherds, there is only one good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. One of the shortest, but also most comforting of the Psalms, is Psalms 23 where God Himself is referred to as a shepherd:

The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want; He makes me lie down on green pastures. 

He leads me beneath still waters; He restores my soul. 

He leads me in paths of righteousness For His name's sake 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil;

For Thou are with me;

Thy rod and Thy staff 

They comfort me. 

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies 

Thou anointest my head with oil. 

My cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. 

And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. 

This Psalm is comforting to many people who are in distress, especially during times of sorrow and grief. The Psalmist speaks of the shepherd as leading, restoring and comforting, words which bring solace to people who are hurt. 

However, the Scripture also speak of the shepherding in terms of judgement. In Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, the king will separate the sheep from the goats, as a shepherd routinely does in order to keep his flock safe. The reality is that the good Shepherd, the Son of God, will come with ultimate power and authority to execute His divine judgement in the world. 

We are not told whether the shepherds in the birth narratives are good or bad, just that they were in their fields keeping watch over their flock. Luke tells us that they are the first ones to hear the good news. This child is the messiah of God who comes to bring peace and justice in the world. He will grow up to be the "good Shepherd" who leads His followers to the Kingdom and who rules with justice and equity, so that the "increase of His government and of Peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over His kingdom to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore" (Isaiah 9:7). The ultimate message is that this Christ child, who is born in Bethlehem, will also bring His peace and justice to the entire world.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me a sinner.

Prepare O Bethlehem - We Are Family

When we are children, we are all interested in knowing our family heritage. Who are we, where are we from, who all are there in our extended family, where did our family come from, and many other questions. These are some basic questions about family origins which have been asked for millennia. People across the globe have looked to their past in order to explain how they arrived in their present situation. 

On the Sunday before we commemorate the Nativity of our Lord, we hear a reading from the Gospel of Luke which includes a long list of names in Jesus' family tree, or a "genealogy". The Old Testament contains many genealogies, especially in 1 -  2 Kings and in 1 Chronicles 1 -  9. These lists identify someone within the larger family tree together with extended family and their offspring. 

In the New Testament, we have two different genealogies, in Matthew 1:1-17 and the other in Luke 3:23-38. Luke begins with Joseph and traces the lineage of Jesus back to the first man Adam, while Matthew begins with Jesus and traces his family through the lineage of both the great King David and through Abraham, the first patriarch. Luke's genealogy includes only men, while Matthew includes both men and women. Matthew and Luke wrote their genealogies for different purposes, and therefore, we should not be surprised that there are differences between the two genealogies. Jesus did not appear from just anywhere, but was from a specific family and was born in a particular time and place with a particular family. The prophet Isaiah alludes to the root of Jesse in his prophecies to Israel, which are also read aloud during the services of Nativity of the Lord:

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. Thou has multiplied the nation, Thou has increased its joy; they rejoice before Thee as with joy at the harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. From the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, Thou has broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the trampling warriors in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder, and His name will be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, hoon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this" (Isaiah 9:2-7).

Isaiah also says that all nations will bow down and worship God, because He is faithful to His word and will not allow Israel's enemies to subdue them (Isaiah 11:15). Isaiah spooks of a messiah who will bring both peace and justice, as the ox and lamb lie together so too well the messiah bring enemies together. Isaiah's prophesy was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus who brings the eternal peace of God to both Jew and Gentile, slave and free, man and woman. 

Matthew also mentions King David in the genealogy. King David was also one of the greatest and most beloved kings of the Old Testament. In his youth, David was a shepherd boy and musician who slew the giant Goliath. He was the youngest of Jesse's eight sons and was anointed a king by Prophet Samuel (1 Sam. 16:10-13. See also 2 Sam. 5:1-5).

As King, he led the Israelites in battle and provided justice and equity among the people. The Book of Psalms is attributed to him. In the New Testament, Jesus is often mentioned in connection with King David (Matt. 9:27, Luke 18:38, John 7:42, and 2 Tim. 2:8). However, King David also had a dark side; he fell into sin after he had Uriah sent to his death on the battlefield so that he could also with Uriah's wife Bathsheeba. Yet, even though David did a terrible thing, he repented and was obedient to God. 

Matthew also links Jesus with the first patriarch Abraham, who is mentioned three times in the birth narratives (Matt. 1:1, 2, 17). Abraham is an important person in the Old Testament, because the covenant promise was first given to him that he would be the father of all nations (Gen. 12:1-3. See also Isaiah 19:24, Acts 3:25-26, Romans 4:13). Abraham is important, because it is through his offspring that God will provide His blessing. Thus, God fulfills His promise-covenant through Abraham. 

While Matthews genealogy clearly connects Jesus with both the kingly Davidic line and with the Abrahamic covenant, Matthew also includes four noteworthy women in Jesus' family: Rahab, Ruth, Tamar and Mary. Rahab was a harlot from Jericho who helped the two spies escape the city of Jericho (Joshua 2:1-24); Ruth was a Moabite who lived among Israelites (Ruth 1:1-5); Tamar was a Canaanite woman who disguised herself as a prostitute in order to seduce Judah (Gen. 38:1ff); and Mary was an unwed bride who bore Jesus. All of these women were strong yet also provided opportunities for God to work His salvation through their actions. These women were also obedient and faithful to the Lord. Ruth remained close to her mother in law Naomi when Naomi's son died; Tamar married Judah who later became one of the great leaders of the southern Kingdom; and Mary accepted the angel's message that she would bear the son of God. 

Matthews genealogy shows us that Jesus' family was certainly a very mixed crew. Jesus' family included all types of people: political leaders, kings, queens, gentiles, sinners, not to mention murderers, harlots, liars, and other unsavory types of people. Perhaps, Matthew is trying to tell us that Jesus comes from a very human family, not very different from families like ours. Yet, it is their this human family that God chooses to bring His salvation. The biblical God wants His salvation through the sinners and outsiders on the margins of society, especially the poor, widow, orphan and outsider. Jesus comes to those who are not accepted in society and shows His love in concrete ways. He eats with sinners, speaks with outsiders and is a friend of harlots. Jesus goes out of His way to welcome those in society whom no one else will welcome. He provides us with the best example of how to show hospitality to strangers. One of Jesus' names attributed to Him in the birth narratives is Emmanuel, which means, "God with us". During the Christmas Season, we are reminded that God is truly with us and finds His home in our strange human family. 

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me a sinner.

(Ref: Icon shows the Root of Jesse bringing forth King David, from whom Solomon comes forth and then Mary, the Theotokos and Jesus from Mary, surrounded by all the prophets)

Prepare O Bethlehem - Joseph, A Dreamer and Just Man

When in bed Joseph thought painfully how to save the virgin from the danger of scandal. Then from heaven came Gabriel, the God sent angel in a dream. He informed that Mary is conceived by the Holy Ghost and the child is the son of God. Joseph when he rose from his sleep bowed with anxiety before the Virgin and said in a loud voice, I do respect you and your son. The father who sent the son to show the right path to all castes is blessed (Matthew 1:20-25). (Translation of the Catholic Hymn sung on the day commemorating the Annunciation to Joseph).

Dear bothers and sisters in Christ Jesus

As we prepare to welcome the Incarnate God into our lives this Christmas, let us continue on our series by learning about Joseph.

Outside the birth narratives, Joseph is mentioned only a few times, generally in reference to Jesus, Mary and the town of Nazareth. (Read Luke 4:20-22, Mark 6:1-6, John 1:25, 6:42. Please also refer to Matthew 13:53-58, John 19:19, Acts 2:22, 3:6, 4:10, 6:14, 10:38, 22:8, 26:9).

We do not know much about Joseph other than what the Gospels tell us. He was from the line of David, he was a Carpenter, and he lived in Nazareth with Mary. Furthermore, Matthew tells us that an angel announces the good news to Joseph that his wife will bear a son:

"Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." And this took place to fulfill what the Lord has spoken by the prophet, "Behold,  a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and His name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called His name Jesus" (Matthew 1:18-25).

We commemorate the Annunciation to Joseph on the second Sunday of December. According to Matthew, Joseph has two more dreams - one where the angel warns Joseph that Herod is seeking to kill the child Jesus, and another where the angel tells Joseph that it is now time to return home (Read Matthew 2:19-20).

Dreams were very common throughout the Old Testament. For example, King Solomon is asked by the Lord in a dream what he wished to have. When Solomon asks for wisdom, the Lord grants him his wish and in addition gives him wealth and power (1 Kings 3:5-15). The text goes on to say that upon rising from sleep, Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings in the temple for all the people. Likewise, Jacob had a dream at Bethel where he saw a ladder that reached far into the heavens and angels ascending and descending on it. Then, the Lord told Jacob in the dream that He would bless Jacob and his descendants and that He would never leave Jacob (Read Genesis 28:10-17).

Not only are visions and dreams abundant in the Old Testament but also dream interpretation. While dreams are considered important, it is even more important to understand the meaning of these dreams. Daniel becomes the interpreter of dreams at the court of Nebuchadnezzar and foretells his demise (Dan. 2:36-45).

Matthews description of Joseph, Mary's betrothed, is highly reminiscent of Joseph in the Old Testament, who was considered the man of dreams. He was the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel (Gen. 30:24, 35:24, and 1 Chronicles 2:2) and was envied and hated by his brothers in part because of his dreams (Read Gen. 37:5-12).

Joseph played an important role in the story as well.  He was a rather ordinary man, who had extraordinary faith.  In Orthodox Tradition, we hold that Joseph was an elderly man, who had been widowed.  He had children from a previous marriage, (they are referred to as Jesus’ brothers and sisters who in reality were half-brothers and half-sisters, see Matthew 13: 55-56).  And he worked as a carpenter; a rather ordinary life.

Joseph was a just man, and the Gospel tells us, that he did not want to put Mary to shame, so he resolved to divorce her quietly.  Joseph had extraordinary faith.  Imagine the conversation when Mary told him that she was pregnant.  Here she had been raised in the temple.  They were engaged but not married.  And now his betrothed was pregnant and the baby was not his.  What faith he must have had in Mary, to believe that she was pregnant in a way no human being could become pregnant, by the Holy Spirit.  And what faith he must have had in God to assume the role of caretaker for an unmarried woman who risked being scorned by the society of the day.  He had the same risk as well.  He had a job, he had friends, he had a reputation, and all those things he was willing to put on the line because of his faith.

Joseph's role in the birth of Jesus according to Matthew is prominent. He is a "just man" and obedient to the word of God. Joseph doubts the truthfulness of his wife's pregnancy, just as Moses doubts his role as the law give and as Sarah doubts the conception of Isaac. Yet, Joseph like Moses and Sarah, remains faithful to the Lord, trusts in God's plan, listens to the word of God and follows it by taking his family and raising them in the town of Nazareth.

There are two lessons from the life of Joseph.  First, one can be a rather ordinary person and still make an extraordinary spiritual contribution.  Joseph was not a priest, was not really learned (he had a trade, not a career), was not a member of the temple elite.  He wasn’t looking to play a big role when God tapped him on the shoulder.  Yet, he, too, like Mary, embraced his role.  You don’t have to have a lot of money, or fame or a great career in order to answer God’s call for your life.  And secondly, Joseph was willing to risk his comfort, his job, his friends and so much more in order to care for Mary and her (not his) unborn child.  Are we willing to do the same?  Joseph’s “Yes” to God was for a different thing than Mary.  But it was really no less important.  Because the story could not be complete without both of them.

An extraordinary person with little faith is rather ordinary in the eyes of God.  An ordinary person with extraordinary faith is extraordinary in the eyes of God.  What kind of faith do you have?  What kind of faith do you want to have?  If you were standing in the presence of God right now, how would HE describe your faith?

I would also like to venture to say that most of us do not have dreams like Joseph. If we did, I'm sure not many of our friends would believe us - they would probably send us to a doctor to get help! Conventional wisdom tells us that otherworldly visions and dreams are "ultra-spiritual" and mysterious and are wonderful ways to experience our faith. Yet, we cannot be certain that our dreams and visions are from God, after all, the Scriptures remind us that even the Devil can come to us as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14). Therefore, we should not dwell upon them. Many of our spiritual fathers say that if you have a spiritual vision of dream, do not tell anyone, just say a prayer, and forget about it. In other words, our faith is not in dreams and visions but in Jesus Christ (incarnated, crucified, buried, risen again and ascended into Heaven) who comes to us through His spoken Word in the Scriptures and in the liturgy of the Church. 

It is here, in the saving message of the Word of God, where we encounter the everlasting and life-giving good news of the Kingdom of we choose to listen. We must have open hearts so the seed of the Gospel can be planted in it. As Matthew says, the good soil receives the seed, and it takes root. Hopefully, the Word will take root in our hearts and grow abundantly.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me a sinner.