Fourth Sunday of Advent: St. Joseph

Readings: Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 23:1-6; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-24

On the fourth Sunday of Advent, we read St. Matthew’s Gospel in which the role of St. Joseph is brought into focus. In order to understand the situation in which Joseph found himself, a little background is needed. He was betrothed (in Hebrew, ‘qiddushin’ meaning consecrations) to Mary, Our Lady. In Jewish culture at that time, this had a greater significance than the modern day equivalent of an engagement because it carried with it the legal and moral effects of marriage itself. During this time of betrothal the bride-to-be lived with her parents - in Mary’s case with Saints Joachim and Anne. It was only at the celebration of the wedding that the wife would be led in procession to her husband’s house after which time they “came together” [RSV Mt 1:18].

We are not told in Matthew’s Gospel or any other for that matter, how Joseph discovered Mary was “with child”. Perhaps Mary told him and tried to explain; perhaps it was through an intermediary; perhaps he realised it by himself? Regardless, the situation no doubt appeared bleak initially. There were - seemingly - two possibilities to explain Mary’s pregnancy: either Joseph had lacked the self-control to remain chaste before the wedding, or Mary had been unfaithful. The former would have been a cause of shame and reproach on both Mary and Joseph; the latter was more serious still for the penalty for a “betrothed virgin” lying with another man was death by stoning [Deut 22:23-24].  The stakes were very high indeed.

How does Joseph navigate this crisis? As a “just man”, he decides he will end the relationship discreetly by divorcing Mary. He did not seek the retribution for which the law provided - being “unwilling to put her to shame” - but, in the midst of this dramatic scene, he displayed a kindly disposition. St. Thomas Aquinas and others have interpreted this disposition as a sign that he realised that somehow God was behind all of this - perhaps there was a third possibility after all?

Even so, “Why me?” “Why would it have to be my wife who became pregnant, and leave me in this quandry?” I suspect Joseph uttered such words or words to a similar effect. The answer, of course - as Joseph discovered by the message of angel in a dream - is that it was God’s plan. It was God’s plan that Joseph, the “son of David”, the heir to the Davidic promise, would be the Father of Jesus. It was God’s plan that Mary who had already been conceived without original sin would be His Mother. It was God’s plan that His son would be named “Jesus” (Jeshua) meaning “the Lord saves”. It was God’s plan that He would save His people from their sins. And all this was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s oracle, God’s plan foretold.

As if Joseph wasn’t bewildered enough by Mary’s pregnancy, he now learns that the Father of Mary’s child is God Himself, and that he, Joseph, is to be guardian. The human mind boggles at such an awesome message, a breathtaking responsibility. Certainly, it was not for nothing that the angel said to him, “do not fear”.

Joseph’s example is a remarkable one. He was, in every sense but biological, the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and husband of Our Lady. In the remaining days of Advent, in our contemplation of how our Saviour came to be born, all of us might reflect on Joseph’s witness and role in the history of salvation. Pope Benedict XVI encouraged this devotion: "meditation on the human and spiritual journey of Saint Joseph invites us to ponder his vocation in all its richness, and to see him as a constant model for all those who have devoted their lives to Christ in the priesthood, in the consecrated life or in the different forms of lay engagement.”

Sancte Joseph, ora pro nobis.

Joseph's Dream, Gaetano Gandolfi (c.1790)

Pope Benedict XVI's abdication

The sudden abdication of Pope Benedict XVI yesterday, to come into effect on 28 February at 7pm GMT, was greeted with sadness by many Catholics around the world. Shock and sadness were predominant themes on the social media. Although the Pope has not died, thank God, our response to the news – and that of the media – quite naturally thinks of the Holy Father's departure in such terms. The Church is, as it were, 'losing' a great and holy leader. The Pope's bold announcement was another great sign of his deeply humble and loving service in the vineyard of the Lord. And that is why we will miss him.

But I have to admit my principal reaction to the news was one of strangely joyful surprise. I suppose this is because it was immediately apparent that Pope Benedict had taken this decision on his own, in full freedom and after prolonged prayer; and therefore he himself considers this the best, and perhaps only, course for the Church to take in light of his increasing frailty. In other words, this was a great act of humility and love for Christ's Church – and that is a reason to rejoice. Besides, we can be happy that the Pope can find peace in his prayerful retirement, which is of course what he had longed for before his election to the See of Peter.

This move, unprecedented in the modern era, demonstrates yet again how Pope Benedict is radically committed to the common good and the advancement of the Gospel in our world. He knows clearly – at least much better than us – what challenges and burdens the governance of the Church imposes on its earthly leader. Our Pope has never forgotten that his position is one of service to the Lord, and hence of service to the whole Church: he is the 'Servant of the Servants of God'. Like John the Baptiser, Benedict knows when Love calls us to say, 'I must decrease.' (Jn 3:30)

Inevitably, the feverish harvesting of opinions, the inchoate assessments of 'legacy', the bewildering speculation about succession, once begun will not cease over the coming months. Even the jokes have piled in already: the Pope has set the bar very high in giving up something for Lent; and so on. Many of the jokes are in poor taste, alas, just as the media commentary is often negative.

So, what should be our Catholic response to this? I think we should recognise that the papal resignation is not a simple act and cannot be interpreted in any simple fashion. Our sadness is lined with joy; our reflection on the past mixed with hopeful anticipation for the future. In praying for the Pope and the Church at this time, let us also remember the many who do not call themselves Catholic and Christian, including those who (for whatever reason) do not see the Church as a bearer of 'good news'.

Godzdogz would like to wish Pope Benedict a happy and peaceful retirement, with our prayers for him and those who must now meet to elect his successor.

The Pope's First Tweet and the End of the World

So the End of the World has still not yet happened, and perhaps you are tired of all this waiting?

In case you're on tenterhooks, you can keep abreast of Doomsday live at the Guardian blog.

As for me, I've lost count of the number of predicted apocalypses in recent times. Earlier this year, 21 May was announced (then promptly retracted) by the Californian 'Christian preacher', Harold Camping. But believing in nonsense normally ends in disappointment. When that date passed without doom, some people were quick to console Mr. Camping:

Of course, Mr. Camping can't have read his Bible very carefully. For Our Lord clearly states that we cannot predict his Second Coming: 'Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh.' (Mt. 25:13) Perhaps we will one day make reasonable predictions when the world will end, not from religious posturing but from scientific observation – of the Sun's expansion, of wayward asteroids, or whatever. But no such threat is even remotely plausible at the moment and should not trouble our sleep in the slightest.

Far more important is the fact that the Second Coming could happen any minute now, without any warnings or predictions whatsoever. So, although apocalypse is the theme of the readings at Mass at the end of the liturgical year (i.e. just before Advent), it remains relevant now, for Advent is the period par excellence of watching and waiting.

Of course, Advent is not explicitly a preparation for apocalypse, but for Christmas; and it would be foolish to conflate these two! More importantly, we have to reject 'secular' understandings of apocalypse, by which people mean the simple destruction of the world. For Christians, 'apocalypse' – literally the unveiling, or revelation – is God's definitive act of re-making the cosmos. So, the end of the world is not destruction, but re-creation: 'a new heaven and a new earth' (Rev. 21:1).

It's been a good month for earth-shattering claims. A great storm of anticipation arose when it was announced that the Pope, with brand-new Twitter accounts in eight languages, would send his first ever tweet on 12 December (that one in June 2011 doesn't count because it wasn't from his personal account...).

So, without a single tweet, the Holy Father (@pontifex) amassed over a million followers – at least when you add up his accounts in all languages – while not 'following' anyone but his own accounts in return. I took this snapshot a little earlier, but by the time his first tweet came out he had over 723,000 followers in English.

And, when it at last appeared, what did the pope's first tweet actually say? 

Dear friends, I am pleased to get in touch with you through Twitter. Thank you for your generous response. I bless all of you from my heart.



With all the hype, the media and the Twitterati quickly pounced on it, according to the full range of rather predictable responses. And immediately, @pontifex achieved a better retweeting record than Justin Bieber.

Five more tweets followed the same day. Look them up (or click image below), if you haven't already, and notice what @pontifex is saying. He asking predictable rhetorical questions, followed by pithy, profound answers. The format is unusually clipped, but the content is what we've come to expect from the man who is at once theologically deep and pastorally precise. No pictures of kittens. No earth-shattering revelations. Just apparently Business as Usual for the shepherd of Christ's earthly flock. Small wonder, then, that the hype has largely subsided. The Pope is a Catholic! No news there..... although The Onion imagined some humorous alternatives ('I'm still catholic I just don't go to church or believe in jesus [sic]'). 

But can Pope Benedict keep up this online activity? Breaking out into the Twittersphere was one thing, sending a great message for the Church and modern connectivity; but is it necessary or even beneficial in the long run? In fact, the Vatican confirmed that subsequent tweets would not be posted by the Pontiff himself, though 'it's always going to have his engagement and his approval'. @pontifex won't follow other accounts (how could he/they possibly choose?), won't crack jokes, won't retweet or use the hashtag. In effect, the Pope is not 'on Twitter', in the normal sense of that phrase. It would absurd if he were.

That does not obviate the possibility of other meaningful papal interventions in secular public discourse. Witness Benedict's article in the Financial Times, just three days ago, perhaps the first time a pope has ever written for a secular newspaper. Recall, too, how Christmas 2010 saw the papal debut on the BBC's Thought for the Day. These are incredibly significant acts, almost necessitated by the global growth in social networks. We could almost say, it's not enough that the Pope is the Pope: he must be seen to be the Pope! In so doing, he is reassuring those of us Catholics who are active online, that what we do here can be a fruitful work for the sake of Jesus Christ and his Gospel.

This work of the New Evangelisation is a participation in God's own fructifying providence. God is always doing new things, always re-creating.

See I am doing a new thing! 

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness

and streams in the wasteland. (Is. 43:19)

So it's time to prepare – the best is yet to come. The world has not ended with a cycle of the Mayan calendar; nor with the advent of @pontifex to the world of social media. It is Christ's coming at Christmas which we wait for in hope – an event far greater than a mere tweet, even a Papal Tweet.