Christmas Journey to Bethlehem: St. Joseph with Expectant Mary

St. Joseph and Holy Angels were on travel in the year of faith all over the world and universe. St. Joseph discussed his journey reflection comparing with faithfuls' journey with Mother Church towards eternal Bethlehem. 2000 year ago when St. Joseph traveled with expectant Mary through the roads on a mounted Donkey, they faced many challenges, which were St. Joseph's concerns at that time. Expectant Mary's discomforts and tiredness on the journey were concerning St. Joseph deeply. Her privacy was a threatening issue when the nagging contractions occurred frequently due to the travel on up and down hills path, which was not present before their journey, a new development, which took St. Joseph off guard. The troubling   false pains ( the preparatory uterine contractions two weeks before the labor) announced the arrival baby may be very near, when they were still far away from the destination, took St. Joseph to the extremes of anxiety. He suffered in seeing Mary's suffering as he loved her immensely. Every pain and discomfort she underwent pushed St. Joseph to the brinks of agony. He was in a state of unknown outcomes in an unknown situations, on a nomadic path, in an unknown land, in an unpredictable situation. Mary's suffering slowed their journey further, when St. Joseph made many stopping to ease Mary's pains due to that the traveling clan left them behind. Now he was left alone or with few travelers behind on the trail, while they were also passing ahead of them quickly,with few concerning looks, none to help but showed their hurry in travel. St. Joseph was left alone with expectant Mary, when both were suffering in each other's arms and pains with one consolation they were there for each other. St. Joseph was interrupted of his reflection by the voice of Angel. Gabreial, calling Joseph, Joseph, are you gone very far....... in your reflection? Remember you were not alone we were with you and the host of almighty was all around you on your travel to Bethlehem.

Yes... yes... St. Joseph said and called his company to go with him to see the church and her faith in 2012. They entered into Ascension Church, Metha Nagar, Chennai, India. They visited the decorated sanctuary in carved woods. There were two hanging banners announcing the year of faith on both sides of the tabernacle, which is a testament echo of Holy Father's declaration of year of Faith into the eastern world. It was a week day, when the parish priest, who is a learned theologian, who has the doctorate in theology, and who is endowed with deeper gifts of pastoral virtues, leadership qualities, technology savy, youth cohesiveness, and devoted guardian of  holy family in the Church, a rare combination of pastoral qualities, was getting ready for his holy Mass, t. Joseph and Holy Angels entered into the sanctuary to join in the celebration of mass. During the mass, they participated in  many special prayers including prayer for year of faith, and announcement of two bible verses reflecting faith. These special prayers helped people to unit their heart and soul in prayers with faith, which is a meaningful way of witnessing faith to the world.

As they attended the Holy Mass, they admired the detailed approach of the parish priest to the call of year of faith. They heard him speak on repentance and preparation of hearts and soul for the arrival of Jesus. They were interested to hear his plans for celebration of holy family day following Christmas honoring 25th and 50th wedding anniversary couples for this year in the celebration event, which is his routine activity of every year in fostering families and family life sanctity. This priest always highlights family and the sanctity of family and often he talks about the supremacy of family life as a call and the purpose of his call is to serve and uphold the dignity of families. St. Joseph and Holy Angels admired his pastoral ingenuity in guiding the people he has been entrusted with by heavenly Father.  st. Joseph discussed the role of priesthood in the protection of Holy Families in the Church, as Angels protected His journey with expectant Mary. Priesthood life is a redemptive life for the humanity, which is a valiant gift of expectant Mother Church and holy families are gifts of mother Church, which is another supreme gift of expectant mother Church.

Reflecting and discussing these matters of faith St. Joseph and Holy Angels praised and thank God for the gift of Mother Church. He compared his journey with expectant Mary to Bethlehem with the journey of priesthood with expectant Mother Church in this year of faith. When they were getting ready to depart, they received an international call from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church from German town, USA. They traveled towards west to witness the priesthood majesty in protecting holy families in this world.

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