Archive for December 24, 2009

The Shepherds; Joseph’s best friends

Posted: December 24, 2009 by datechguy in catholic
Tags: ,

I was watching one of those little 30 minute films on Catholic TV this morning showing the Christmas story (I think it was El Salvador produced by Fr. Patrick Payton’s Family Theatre, he of “The Family that prays’ together stays together” fame.). The narration was Bing Crosby and Frankie Avalon appeared in studio after with Fr Payton talking about it.

While I was watching the show, something hit me right across the face.

If you take a look at Scripture there is a difference between the way Mary and Joseph communicate with the messengers of the Lord.

Gabriel appears to Mary directly, she sees and hears him and immediately obeys, the angel pays her homage and says the words that will become the Hail Mary. Mary being immaculate, obeys “behold I am the handmaiden of the Lord…” even knowing that the law could condemn her to death and at the very least she will be shamed. If you think people can be gossips now, consider how it must have been with no TV, Radio, books (scrolls) and literacy rare, what else was there to do BUT gossip? It must have been nasty.

Meanwhile we have Joseph. How does he he get his information? From Dreams and from what Mary tells her.

The Gospel is not explicit as to what he thought but put yourself in his place. Your betrothed has turned up pregnant and she tells you about the Angel of the Lord etc. If you don’t turn her in then your own sin is suspected. Then you have your dream.

The dream gives you the excuse you want to let things be but deep inside the question turns in your head. You KNOW you didn’t touch her, was it really a dream from God, or are you just fooling yourself. Is it a test of faith? I’m a carpenter not a prophet? Am I another Amos?

You take her to the house, you follow the rules of the census and you end up in a stable in Bethlehem all the while doing your best to be a good husband ignoring the elephant in the room.

The Baby is born, a torrent of emotions are going through your wife and yourself …

…and then the Shepherds appear…

…they come out of nowhere. They give homage, in that moment, they confirm that all you have done was right. Even better they tell their story to everyone (Luke 2: 8-18) what do the Gossips say now?

You are Joseph, how relieved are you at this point? Remember unlike Peter he didn’t have years of miracles in front of his face when he denied Christ, he only had the word of a teenage girl and a dream. There would have been little cost to him if he condemned Mary. Yet he didn’t and this moment was that ultimate reward. He passed the ultimate test of faith with flying colors.

A lot of times we consider St. Joseph an afterthought, he deserves better.

Update: I can’t believe I made that spelling mistake corrected, no wonder Tucker hasn’t called.

Funny christmas Picture time

Posted: December 24, 2009 by datechguy in fun, oddities
Tags: , ,

Via the Hermeneutic of Continuity and Patrick Madrid

Be sure to check out the photos at this post as well, the 2nd photo is the best.

A: Because it beats having taking action that loses votes…

Posted: December 24, 2009 by datechguy in Uncategorized
Tags: , ,

Q: Why will the president neither address nor remove Kevin Jennings from his safe school Czar position?

Gay activists are already very upset at the president’s inaction on several fronts that they have demanded action on. The White house doesn’t take this action because said actions are political losers. Every Democrat in congress knows this or they would have taken action on these items years ago.

The White House needs to pacify this group that supplies cash without actually taking action. In Kevin Jennings they have found the perfect vehicle for this goal.

Gay activists know they have been played for suckers, but they also understand that the Jennings matter is potentially more dangerous than any other to them.

This person has been lionized and held up as an example by their community, so much so that he got the White House appointment. However like the University of East Anglia Scientists (Go Polar Bears!) they also know what the result of the widespread publicity of the GLSEN agenda would be. Attitudes have changed over the decades but not THAT much.

They understand that any acknowledgment of the Jennings scandal puts their entire agenda out before the public in a way that is impossible to address in a positive light. And unlike some national agenda it is a local agenda, something that a state rep or even a city council deals with. That’s something that can people if roused can do something about from the bottom up. It would cause rollbacks on the state and local level faster than an overstocked WalMart.

The White House understands this and by standing behind Jennings they give the radical Gay community what they need rather than what they want without political cost…at least for now.

As long as the media continues to use the same investigative prowess it used on the John Edwards story the White House can duck it and play this game. Since the MSM has embrace the Jennings agenda it is in their own best interest to play it down too. So don’t expect it to crossover to the MSM anytime soon.

Thus Jennings serves a vital interest for the president. He keeps the Gay community in check simply by staying right where he is.

This is the reality and unfortunately the yeoman work of Jim Hoff is unlikely to change it.

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