December 18, 2016
4th Sunday of Advent
Joseph finds himself in a dilemma. He is betrothed to Mary and before they live together Mary is with child. Joseph is a just man and an observant Jew (faithful to the Torah). Rather than following a severe prescription in the law exposing Mary to shame and possible stoning, Joseph decides to divorce her quietly. When behold an angel of God appears to him in a dream to calm his fear and misgivings. The child is conceived through the Holy Spirit. The angel bids Joseph to take Mary into his home as his wife and to name the boy “Jesus.†Joseph balances devotedness to the Torah, with empathy for Mary and with openness to a higher calling.
Police Officer Sherry Holtz responded to an emergency call on Monday. A month old baby boy had stopped breathing! This is the third time Sherry Holtz has saved the life of a child. She commented: “I super love my job. I am a people person. You absolutely need empathy with this job. You have to find the good in people, even in a dangerous situation. How you approach the situation and people initially plays a huge role in the outcome. We’re counselors and peacemakers.†Certainly, growing up in a police family (her father and grandfather were officers), Sherry knows the responsibility of enforcing the law but she maintains “empathy†is key to being a good officer. “I say the ‘Our Father’ all the time.â€
Both St. Joseph and Sherry, a mother and grandmother, set a good example for us before Christmas. Simply, to balance fidelity to the law with the greatest of all the commandments: “Love God and love our neighbor as our self.†It is a wonderful way to end Advent and to celebrate Christmas: pray the “Our Father†and find the good in people.
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3rd Sunday of Advent
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Nativity of the Lord
