Fourth Sunday of Advent

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Love

 

 

18Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.  20But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 
23  “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, 
          and they shall name him Emmanuel,” 
which means, “God is with us.”  24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

Matthew 1:18-25

 

 

The Angel Visiting Joseph in a Dream

LA TOUR, Georges du Mesnil de

1628-1645

Musée des Beaux-Arts

Nantes

France

 

https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu//act-processquery.pl?code=ACT&SortOrder=Title&LectionaryLink=AAdvt04

 

 

Fourth Sunday in Advent, Year A:  This image depicts the theophany of Joseph, when an angel appears to Joseph in a dream, telling him of the virgin birth.  The image reflects the lectionary text from Matthew.

 

 https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/diglib-fulldisplay.pl?SID=20221217826217633&code=act&RC=46742&Row=67



Georges De La Tour painted ‘The Dream of St Joseph’ around the year 1640. Until 1913, it was believed to be the work of Rembrandt, even though De La Tour‘s signature was in the top right-hand corner of the painting. Apparently, due to the beauty and magnificence of the painting; many sought a famous name to place on it. It displays a young child in biblical clothing standing before an old man who is still holding on to his book after falling asleep. The artist’s dramatic use of lighting gives the room a supernatural atmosphere and creates a feeling of serenity.

Interpretations of the Painting

The most common interpretation of ‘The Dream of St Joseph’ suggests that the elderly man in the painting is Joseph, and that he is dreaming of a visit from an angel who is announcing to him the upcoming arrival of his blessed son. 

Another theory is that the young child is Samuel, who has been summoned by Eli, his priest. When Samuel arrives to find Eli sleeping, he realizes that the voice he heard was in fact the voice of God calling to him. The child’s hand gestures and the intricately detailed curve of his fingers add powerful meaning to the scene. The arm covering the flame of the candle causes an illumination of the face that results in a dream-like aura found in very few masterpieces of the era. 

Analysis and Reviews

“Georges de la Tour's works can be distinguished most especially through the unique use of lighting in his nocturnal scenes. The paintings are lit with a candle, a nightlight, or a torch, which are sometimes visible or are, at other times, hidden behind a subject's hand or object. As for his less numerous and less popular daylight scenes, the figures are rendered with an acute eye to detail and a simplicity within the scene that is not found in the works of any other artist at the time.” (Misty Amanda Vandergriff – Sweet Briar College study page)

‘The Dream of St Joseph’ is currently located at the Musee des Beaux-Arts in Nantes, France.

http://www.aaronartprints.org/delatour-thedreamofstjoseph.php

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The most beautiful people we have known are those

who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss,

and have found their way out of the depths.

These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity

and an understanding of life that fills them with 

compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern.

Beautiful people do not just happen.

~ Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

 

 

 

 

You can give without loving,

but you can never love without giving.

~ Robert Louis Stevenson

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our final evening and morning in Tokyo.

 

六本木　炉端や

  

Roppongi Robataya

http://www.roppongi-robataya.com/?lang=en

 

As we stepped in from the street, we were greeted with a chorus of irrashaimase’s. 

'Irasshaimase’ means, 'Welcome to my shop/restaurant.’



A beautiful array of fresh fruit, vegetables and live seafood.  



The entire staff was warm and engaging.

 

We each selected what we wanted to eat.

 

Everything was prepared right in front of us.

 

The chefs passed everything on a wooden paddle … including drinks.

 

 

 

Delicious!!!

(And not inexpennsive.)

 

 

 

Thank you, Jack and Dottie Alexander!

 

Tokyo Narita International Airport the next morning.

Dottie and Jack’s plane left a half hour before mine and we all enjoyed

refreshments in the Lounge before boarding for home.

 

Our efficient cab driver, in black suit, vest, white shirt, tie, and white gloves, bowed a farewell to us.

Gokigenyou!

 

 

 

 

When we ask our children, ‘What do you want for Christmas?’,

we are asking a question that breeds selfishness.

In order to develop selflessness we should be asking,

‘What are you going to give?’

Christmas is the celebration of God’s great gift giving —

‘For God so loved the world that he gave … (John 3:16)

~ Robert Flatt

 

 

 

 

 

December 18, 2022  Fourth Sunday of Advent Year A

 

Previous OPQs may be found at: 

     http://www.dotjack.com/opq.htm

 

Agnus Day, by James Wetzstein

Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org

 

 

 

Happy Hanukkah!

December 18 ~ December 26

 

SANTA CLAUS

ATTENTION TO ALL PARENTS WHO NEED TO TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT SANTA 

 

Son: "Dad, I think I'm old enough now. Is there a Santa Claus?." 
Dad: "Ok, I agree that your old enough. But before I tell you, I have a question for you. You see, the “truth” is a dangerous gift. Once you know something, you can't unknow it. Once you know the truth about Santa Claus, you will never again understand and relate to him as you do now. So my question is: Are you sure you want to know?" 
Brief pause...
Son: "Yes, I want to know"
Dad: "Ok, I'll tell you: Yes there is a Santa Claus" 
Son: "Really?" 
Dad: Yes, really, but he's not an old man with a beard in a red suit. That's just what we tell kids. You see, kids are too young to understand the true nature of Santa Claus, so we explain it to them in a way that they can understand. The truth about Santa Claus is that he's not a person at all; he's an idea. Think of all those presents Santa gave you over the years. I actually bought those myself. I watched you open them. And did it bother me that you didn't thank me? Of course not! In fact it gave me great pleasure. You see, Santa Claus is THE IDEA OF GIVING FOR THE SAKE OF GIVING, without thought of thanks or acknowledgement.
When I saw that woman collapse on the subway last week and called for help, I knew that she'd never know that it was me that summoned the ambulance. I was being Santa Claus when I did that." 
Son: "Oh."
Dad: "So now that you know, you're part of it. You have to be Santa Claus too now. That means you can never tell a young kid the secret, and you have to help us select Santa presents for them, and most important, you have to look for opportunities to help people. Got it?"
Help each other this Christmas🎄🎅 and...be kind ❤💕

 

https://raising-teaching-children.blogspot.com/2022/01/to-all-parents-who-need-to-tell-truth.html

 

 

 

 

 

Isaiah 7:10–16 

Psalm 80:1–7, 17–19 

Romans 1:1–7 

Matthew 1:18–25

 

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary into your home.  For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.”
Matthew 1: 18-24

THE WORD:

The last week of Advent shifts our focus from the promise of the Messiah to the fulfillment of that promise in the events surrounding Jesus' birth.

Today’s Gospel is Matthew’s version of Jesus’ birth at Bethlehem.  This is not Luke’s familiar story of a child born in a Bethlehem stable, but that of a young unmarried woman suddenly finding herself pregnant and her very hurt and confused husband wondering what to do.  In Gospel times, marriage was agreed upon by the groom and the bride’s parents almost immediately after the age of puberty; but the girl continued to live with her parents after the wedding until the husband was able to support her in his home or that of his parents.  During that interim period, marital intercourse was not permissible.  Yet Mary is found to be with child.

Joseph, an observant but compassionate Jew, does not wish to subject Mary to the full fury of Jewish law, so he plans to divorce her “quietly.”  But in images reminiscent of the First Testament “annunciations” of Isaac and Samuel, an angel appears to Joseph in a dream and reveals that this child is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy.  Because of his complete faith and trust in God’s promise, Joseph acknowledges the child and names him Jesus (“Savior”) and becomes, in the eyes of the Law, the legal father of Jesus.  Thus, Jesus, through Joseph, is born a descendent of David.

Matthew’s point in his infancy narrative is that Jesus is the Emmanuel promised of old – Isaiah’s prophecy has finally been fulfilled in Jesus: the virgin has given birth to a son, one who is a descendent of David’s house (through Joseph).  Jesus is truly Emmanuel – “God is with us.”

https://connectionsmediaworks.com/sundaygospel.html#dec18

 

Isaiah 7:10-16

10Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying, 11Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. 12But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test. 13Then Isaiah said: “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? 14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. 15He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

1   Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, 
          you who lead Joseph like a flock! 
     You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth 
2        before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. 
     Stir up your might, 
          and come to save us! 

3   Restore us, O God; 
          let your face shine, that we may be saved.

4   O LORD God of hosts, 
          how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers? 
5   You have fed them with the bread of tears, 
          and given them tears to drink in full measure. 
6   You make us the scorn of our neighbors; 
          our enemies laugh among themselves.

7   Restore us, O God of hosts; 
          let your face shine, that we may be saved. 

17   But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, 
          the one whom you made strong for yourself. 
18   Then we will never turn back from you; 
          give us life, and we will call on your name.

19   Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; 
          let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Second Reading Romans 1:1-7

1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, 3the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,  5through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, 6including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

7To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: 
     Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Gospel Matthew 1:18-25

18Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.  20But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 
23  “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, 
          and they shall name him Emmanuel,” 
which means, “God is with us.”  24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.