And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
When we look at the lives of Mary and Joseph many tend to think that what happened to them was singular and in a way it is, but it is also a lesson for each one of us to emulate.
For in the lives of both Mary and Joseph we see two ordinary people who with their whole hearts, minds and soul allowed God to work within them and transform them both to reflect the Divine. These two holy souls became so incorporated into the Divine Presence that when we study them we see the reflection of God in their lives, their words and their actions.
Mary as we know was chosen from the beginning to cooperate with God to help undo the sin of Adam and Eve, where our first parents were expelled from the Kingdom through sin. This would be achieved through Mary giving her Fiat to bear the Son of God, and Jesus Salvific death and Resurrection whereupon man regained his dignity and also his place in the Kingdom of God through the Sacrifice of both mother and Son. For our Lord had removed the sting of death and our Lady shows us how to live with perfect conformity to the Will of the Father, thus undoing the sin of Adam and Eve, which was caused by their rebellion.
But it is the holy lives of this couple, Joseph and Mary that show us that we too are called to give our fiats to God in order for the indwelling Spirit to transform us into living reflections of the Divine. Through Mary and Joseph we learn what it is to live the Divine Will without needing an explanation, as if God had to explain Himself to His creatures.
Joseph and Mary also through their actions teach us what true humility is and also to trust in God's Wisdom, even if it seems bizarre to do so. How many of us would follow a dream if we were told by an angel to rise and leave? Would we not consider it 'just a dream' and fall back to sleep.
Joseph was a great man, indeed a man after God's own heart and was also true father to Jesus and a noble and loving spouse to Mary his beloved wife. It is through the extraordinary humility and meekness of Joseph that shows all men what it is to be a man.
It is through the life of Joseph, Mary and the young baby Jesus we see how it should be for all of us. How family life should be centred around God and their Faith and not a longing to gain 'things', for what profit is there if one gains a mansion only to lose his/her family?
It is this holy couple who exemplify what family life can be if we live our Faith, honour and esteem one another and validate the other through respect and love. Joseph had immense respect and love for Mary and his beloved Mary esteemed and honoured her devout husband, as they both raised Jesus in the Traditions of their Faith. Each of them had their chores to do, Joseph needed to provide a living for his holy family, Mary needed to keep house, cook, clean and nurture her growing son Jesus. And the infant Jesus learnt from his parents to place God first, pray much, and to earn a living by working hard, by the example shown by his parents, Joseph and Mary.
The example provided by the Holy family is to simplify our lives and to enjoy our families, and first and foremost to place God and our Faith at the centre of our family unit. The lives of Joseph and Mary should not be out of the ordinary in that we should all be trying to emulate them within our own lives.
Until we truly embrace the shining examples given to us by this loving and Holy family then it is we who miss out, in that by rejecting the example given us by Joseph and Mary we also reject God's invitation to live His Divine Will.
For both Joseph and Mary lived the Divine Will, even if they at times did not fully comprehend the Way's of God, still they simply Trusted in God's Goodness, because God is Good.
It is through the first Christmas that we see how God dignifies the lowly and allowed the humble to see the face of God. Do we see the face of God in today’s society?
Peace of Christ to ALL
Copyright © 2005 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.
