{"id":3206,"date":"2015-12-21T16:49:32","date_gmt":"2015-12-21T16:49:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/?p=3206"},"modified":"2015-12-19T16:58:13","modified_gmt":"2015-12-19T16:58:13","slug":"commentary-on-christmas-25th-december-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/commentary-on-christmas-25th-december-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary on Christmas, 25th December 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

TEXT – Luke 2: 1-14 – Birth of Jesus<\/em><\/h3>\n

Census<\/strong><\/p>\n

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrollment, when Quirin\u2019i\u2013us was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.<\/em><\/p>\n

Enrolment of Joseph<\/strong><\/p>\n

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.<\/em><\/p>\n

Birth of Jesus<\/strong><\/p>\n

6 And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. 7 And she gave birth to her first\u2013born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. <\/em><\/p>\n

Shepherds<\/strong><\/p>\n

8 And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.<\/em><\/p>\n

Angel\u2019s message<\/strong><\/p>\n

9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, \u201cBe not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; 11 for to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Choirs of Angels<\/strong><\/p>\n

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 \u201cGlory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

EXPLANATION<\/em><\/h3>\n

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrollment, when Quirin\u2019i\u2013us was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIn those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirin\u2019i\u2013us was governor of Syria<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Caesar Augustus was emperor from 27 B.C. to 14 A.D. He was regarded as a god, a saviour and the person who installed the Pax Romana<\/em> peace in the empire.<\/p>\n

Quirinius was governor of Syria and Judaea was part of that province. Bethlehem was in Judaea.<\/p>\n

Quirinius was legate from 6 to 7 A.D. when he took up a census. It would appear that the Romans held a census at regular intervals so that they would know the people on whom they might impose taxes. The date of the census by Quirinius was known; others are unknown. If it could be established when the census which brought Joseph and family to Bethlehem took place, it would be possible to give an accurate date for Christ\u2019s birth.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd all went to be enrolled, each to his own city<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The law demanded that registration take place only in one\u2019s own city, town or village.<\/p>\n

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Two passages from the Old Testament throw much light on this verse. David was born in Bethlehem (I Sm. 17: 12) and so it could be called his \u201ccity\u201d. His coronation took place there also (I Sm. 1\u201313). Micah prophesised about Bethlehem, \u201cBut you, O Bethlehem from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel. He shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace<\/em>\u201d. (Micah 5: 1\u20134). This is a prophecy of Jesus who is portrayed as a shepherd feeding his flock and as the conveyor of peace.<\/p>\n

The archangel told Mary that her son would be given the \u201cthrone of his father David<\/em>\u201d (Lk. 1: 32). By enrolling in the census in Bethlehem Joseph would testify that he, his wife and expected son were of the house or line of David who was born in Bethlehem.<\/p>\n

Neither Nazareth nor Bethlehem could be regarded as cities; they were villages with populations less than 200 people.<\/p>\n

The distance between Nazareth and Bethlehem would be about 150 km.<\/p>\n

\u201cto be enrolled with Mary<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This gives the reason why Mary accompanied Joseph for the census. She was enrolled or registered officially.<\/p>\n

\u201chis betrothed who was with child<\/em>\u201d\u201c \u2014 The fact that Joseph had taken Mary to his home indicates that they were no longer \u201cbetrothed<\/em>\u201d but married. Luke uses the word \u201cbetrothed<\/em>\u201d to indicate that Mary was still a virgin; the marriage was not consummated.<\/p>\n

6 And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. 7 And she gave birth to her first\u2013born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The birth is mentioned in only two verses.<\/p>\n

\u201cto her first\u2013born son<\/em>\u201d \u2014 \u201cFirst\u2013born son<\/em>\u201d is a legal or technical term. In the Old Testament it referred to the son who would continue the family name and receive a double portion of the family property (Gn. 27; Dt. 21: 17). Later, to commemorate the liberation of the Israelites from Pharaoh in Egypt, \u201cThe LORD said to Moses, \u2018Consecrate to me all the first\u2013born; whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine\u2019\u201d<\/em> (Ex. 13: 1\u20132). Jesus was presented in the Temple to be consecrated (Lk, 2: 23). In time he would liberate his new Chosen people from their slavery to sin. The term does not mean that Mary had other children.<\/p>\n

\u201cand wrapped him in swaddling cloths<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This was normal procedure for all Israelite children. What makes it strange is that Luke will repeat this to the shepherds. His emphasis is to stress that Jesus was an ordinary child and treated as such. King Solomon said, \u201cI also am mortal, like everyone else, a descendant of the first\u2013formed child of earth; \u2026 I was nursed with care in swaddling cloths. For no king has had a different beginning of existence; there is for all one entrance into life, and one way out<\/em>\u201d (Wis. 7: 1, 4\u20136).<\/p>\n

\u201cand laid him in a manger<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The word \u201cmanger<\/em>\u201d is important for Luke who uses it three times (vv. 7, 12, 16). A \u201cmanger<\/em>\u201d is a feeding trough for animals. By describing Mary as laying Jesus in the \u201cmanger<\/em>\u201d Luke is telling us that Jesus has come to nourish us. \u201cBethlehem\u201d means the \u201ccity of bread\u201d. Jesus will call himself \u201cthe bread from heaven<\/em>\u201d. The \u201cbread from heaven<\/em>\u201d has come to \u201cBethlehem<\/em>\u201d, the \u2018city of bread\u2019, to lie in a feeding trough, as a sign that he had come to nourish us.<\/p>\n

\u201cbecause there was no place for them in the inn<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The people of Bethlehem, his own people, rejected Jesus. This is Luke\u2019s reason for the birth in a stable and a bed that was a manger.<\/p>\n

Pope Benedict XVI has been criticized because in his book, \u201cJesus of Nazareth, The Infancy Narratives<\/em>\u201d he mentioned that there was no donkey or ox in the stable of Bethlehem. The Gospels do not mention that there were these animals there. Everyone should have been aware of that for years because it has been known and written about for centuries. When the first Christmas Cribs were made by St. Francis of Assisi, the animal\u2013loving saint, he placed several animals in his cribs. The reason why the donkey and ox have remained is based on Isaiah 1: 3, \u201cThe ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master\u2019s crib<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

8 And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night<\/em>\u201d \u2014 These shepherds were special. Sheep were not allowed between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. However, from November to Pasch (March\/April) there was an exception for the lambs and sheep that would be offered in sacrifice in the Temple. Jesus, the Lamb of God, rejected by the people at birth and at death, will be born there.<\/p>\n

In Israeli society shepherds were of two types. God was \u201cthe shepherd of Israel<\/em>\u201d (Ps. 23: 1; 80: 2). Many patriarchs were shepherds, such as Abel (Gn. 4: 2\u20134), Jacob (Gn. 31: 3\u201313), Joseph (Gn. 37: 2\u20139). Moses (Ex. 3: 1\u20136), David (I Sm. 16: 11\u201313), Amos (Am. 1: 1). Rulers were regarded as shepherds (II Sm. 7: 7; Jer. 2: 8).<\/p>\n

The second type of shepherds were seen as so poor that they could not be trusted with anything nor could they be relied upon not to steal. They were regarded as ritually unclean for worship. Shepherds were despised by the religious and social classes as poor and sinners. The first to be informed of the coming of our Saviour, Messiah, God, were shepherds representing the poor and sinners.<\/p>\n

9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, \u201cBe not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; 11 for to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them<\/em>\u201d \u2014 \u201cThe glory of the Lord<\/em>\u201d refers to God\u2019s presence.<\/p>\n

\u201cand they were filled with fear<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This is a normal and frequent reaction in the Bible to interventions by angels. Zechariah and Mary both reacted \u201cwith fear<\/em>\u201d to the angels greeting (Lk. 1: 12, 29)<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the angel said to them<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Because an angel is a messenger from God, it is God himself who shares this good news revelation to the shepherds.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Be not afraid<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 The angel gave similar advice to Zechariah and Mary (Lk. 1: 13, 30).<\/p>\n

\u201cfor behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people<\/em>\u201d \u2014 \u201cPeople<\/em>\u201d here refers only to the people of Israel who were expecting the Messiah.<\/p>\n

\u201cfor to you<\/em>\u201d \u2014 These two little words are so important. Luke tells his readers what the angel spoke to the shepherds and not alone them but his readers also. It is for each of us that the angel said he was bringing \u201cgood news<\/em>\u201d that would bring joy to everyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cis born this day<\/em>\u201d \u2014 \u201cThis day<\/em>\u201d states that now the prophesies and promises of the Old Testament are being fulfilled. When Jesus went into the synagogue in Nazareth he declared, \u201cToday this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing<\/em>\u201d (Lk. 4: 21). We are in the last time age of the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cin the city of David<\/em>\u201d \u2014 \u201cThe city of David is mentioned again, as already in verse 4, to highlight that this baby, who is to be the Messiah, is the promised descendant of David.<\/p>\n

\u201ca Saviour, who is Christ the Lord<\/em>\u201d \u2013Three titles are given: \u201cSaviour<\/em>\u201d (the meaning of the word \u201cJesus<\/em>\u201d), which refers to the purpose of his coming, \u201cChrist<\/em>\u201d (the Greek word for Messiah\u2013King), the long\u2013awaited promised Anointed of God and descendant of David, and \u201cLord<\/em>\u201d (God). \u201cJesus Christ is the Lord<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n

This is the Good News, the proclamation of the birth of the divine Messiah\u2013Saviour in Bethlehem.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The shepherds were told that the sign they would find would be a baby who looked human and normal and with no proper crib or bed. He would be easily identifiable by these signs. He would not have the pomp and luxury of a king\u2019s son.<\/p>\n

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 \u201cGlory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The \u201cheavenly host<\/em>\u201d refers to the sun, moon, stars (II Ch. 33: 1\u20133; Neh. 9: 6; Jr. 8: 1\u20132), breaking into \u2018song\u2019 with the angels. All heaven rejoices at the birth.<\/p>\n

\u201cpraising God<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This is a strong theme in Luke: 2: 20; 5: 26; 7: 16; 13: 13; 17: 15; 18: 43; 24: 53. The shepherds will join in this praising on their return to look after their sheep.<\/p>\n

\u201cand saying, \u2018Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 Heaven and earth are united in the angelic hymn. God is adored in his home, heaven. People on earth are offered God\u2019s great gift of peace and harmony that comes from being united in God\u2019s love who shares his Son with mankind.<\/p>\n

When Jesus will enter Jerusalem before his passion and crucifixion the crowds will sing \u201cBlessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!<\/em>\u201d (Lk. 19: 38).<\/p>\n

Other translations state: \u201camong men of good will\u201d. This misses the meaning. Peace is not offered to people because they are good and deserve it; God offers them peace because it is his gift.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

APPLICATION<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

This Gospel passage might appear as slightly strange. Only fourteen verses are devoted to the greatest birth of all time in human history. Looking carefully at these verses brings other surprises. Five verses are spent on getting Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem. Then a mere two verses record the birth with the centre piece being \u201cAnd she gave birth to her first\u2013born son<\/em>\u201d. The baby is not described or given a name nor is there any mention about who attended to Mary or whether the delivery was smooth or difficult. These are the kinds of things women would like to know. Luke\u2019s account is so simple it could be passed over without noticing it. The only strange point that might draw attention is that Mary placed the baby in a manger and Luke rushes in to give an excuse for this: there was no room for the baby elsewhere.<\/p>\n

Luke seems to be more interested in shepherds coming to see the baby. Seven verses describe their visit. Indeed the six subsequent verses, a total of thirteen, treat of the shepherds. Why so much focus on the shepherds?<\/p>\n

They are very important and to miss that would be to miss Luke\u2019s whole purpose in writing about the birth. They were social and religious outcasts and people avoided them. Such was the prejudice that people had against them they were not allowed to be witnesses in court. In other words, no one would believe them. Yet it is to these that God sent his messenger with the awe\u2013inspiring news. The most unlikely and, humanly speaking, the most unworthy, were those chosen to be witnesses of the birth. The angel was not sent quietly as Gabriel had been sent to Mary. In her case the archangel came with an invitation and offer. To the shepherds, because the baby was already born, the angel came \u201cwith the glory of God<\/em>\u201d. They were aware that they were in the presence of the divine. Their invitation was to visit the babe.<\/p>\n

Now follows the core of the passage. God reveals, through his messenger or angel, who this baby is. He is their Saviour, their long\u2013awaited Messiah\u2013King (Christ), their God.<\/p>\n

When the Archangel Gabriel visited Mary at the annunciation, he told her that she had to call the baby to be born \u201cJesus<\/em>\u201d. She was not given the meaning of that name but Joseph was addressed by the Holy Spirit and told that Mary \u201cwill bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins<\/em>\u201d (Mt. 1: 21). Now these shepherds, who obviously knew that they were regarded as sinners, are told that they will visit their Saviour.<\/p>\n

The second title is \u201cMessiah<\/em>\u201d\u2013King. The word \u201cMessiah\u201d means anointed in English and Christos in Greek. The Old Testament depicted the \u201cMessiah\u201d as fulfilling the promises made by God to his people. Christ, who has now come, will fulfil all these hopes. Centuries of expectation are now complete.<\/p>\n

The third title is \u201cLord\u201d or God. This is God\u2019s own name. The shepherd\u2019s are invited to see and meet God!<\/p>\n

We are accustomed to these three titles as we speak so frequently and call on \u201cOur Lord Jesus Christ\u201d. All of this is so stupendous that the angel is joined by all the heavenly host who burst into joyful praise as they sing, \u201cGlory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!\u201d<\/em> Heaven and earth are affected by the birth of God\u2013in\u2013the\u2013flesh. God\u2019s glory in heaven is now visible in the person of Jesus because he is the perfect revelation of God in his words and in his actions. His \u201chour of glory\u201d will be his passion and crucifixion. His followers will sing this hymn of the angels as they lead him to his final earthly destination where the work of salvation will be completed and where he gives his gift of peace to whose \u201cwith whom he is pleased\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TEXT – Luke 2: 1-14 – Birth of Jesus<\/em><\/h3>\n

Census<\/strong><\/p>\n

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrollment, when Quirin\u2019i\u2013us was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.<\/em><\/p>\n

Enrolment of Joseph<\/strong><\/p>\n

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.<\/em><\/p>\n

Birth of Jesus<\/strong><\/p>\n

6 And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. 7 And she gave birth to her first\u2013born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. <\/em><\/p>\n

Shepherds<\/strong><\/p>\n

8 And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.<\/em><\/p>\n

Angel\u2019s message<\/strong><\/p>\n

9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, \u201cBe not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; 11 for to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Choirs of Angels<\/strong><\/p>\n

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 \u201cGlory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

EXPLANATION<\/em><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3207,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45,59],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3206","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary","category-notices"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3206","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3206"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3206\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3209,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3206\/revisions\/3209"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3207"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3206"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3206"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3206"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}