Part of my morning prayer time lately is reading from The Life and Glories of Saint Joseph. I'm on the chapter on the Journey to Bethlehem. Two short passages really struck me this morning. The first related to scripture about the birth of the Messiah.
Mary was reared in the temple and must have known the prophecies well. She and Joseph both must have realized that Bethlehem was going to be the birthplace of Jesus. And yet, they stayed in Nazareth waiting to see how God would bring it about.
...we find them remaining on at Nazareth without doubt or question. If this surprises us, it is only because the strength of their faith and their complete abandonment to the leadings of God's Providence are beyond our shallow perception. God would know how to bring about His will in the manner He pleased, and they left all in His hands.
And, of course, we know God used Caesar Augustus to bring about His will.
We often hear sermons at the chapel urging us not to try to anticipate God's Providence. There are biblical examples of the Israelites doing this and they always end badly.
Abraham and Sarah got tired of waiting for the heir God promised and created the situation we see today in the Middle East: war between Isaac and Ishmael. Lot's daughters didn't trust God to provide them with husbands after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and had incestuous relations with their father after getting him drunk. Their offspring became the forefathers of Israel's arch enemies, the Moabites and the Ammonites. The unintended consequences of sin can be devastating. You reap what you sow and often the crop is bitter.
The second passage that struck me, which relates to the first, is about Mary's total trust in God. "Nothing could trouble the serenity of her soul."
Whether Mary already knew that she should have to repair to Bethlehem for the birth of her Divine Infant, or Joseph brought her the first intimation, the handmaid of the Lord would sweetly accept whatever might be the will of God in her regard, and her cheerful acquiescence must have encouraged and consoled her spouse.
It isn't easy to wait on Providence or accept the bitter with the sweet and see all, absolutely all, coming from God. We all experience the struggle described in the Book of Job. Job never curses God, but he has a hard time accepting all his pain with the serenity of Mary. I know I resemble Job more than Mary when times are tough. Maybe that's why God gives me situations to practice on. I need patience and the way to patience is in the etymology of the word which means to suffer and to endure.
I don't pray for patience any more. The Lord provides us all with ample opportunities without our asking for it. Remember, we live in this "valley of tears." No one gets out of life without significant suffering. How we respond to that suffering is the test God gives us.
I'm listening to a lecture on Moses and the Covenant right now and, when Aaron betrays God and creates a golden calf for the people while Moses is on the mountain, God threatens to destroy him and the sinful Israelites. He says He will bring about a new nation and a new people through Moses. But that generous patriarch refuses the offer and begs for Aaron's life and for the lives of the people.
Wow!
May we all imitate Moses in our generosity over the betrayal of others and imitate the patient waiting of Mary and Joseph on God's Divine Providence. The suffering of life is short, the glory and joy of heaven is infinite.
May your day and your month of May be a time of blessing. I'm offering my rosary for all my readers today. If you observe the aurora borealis tonight praise God for all the gifts of beauty He gives us here to remind us of the glories of heaven!
May Jesus Christ be praised!
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