Celebrating the Sunday of Finding the Lord in the Temple

 

"Why is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father's business?" ( Lk 2:49)

Description of the Icon:

The last icon of the Nativity Cycle, for the second Sunday after Christmas, features the Finding of Our Lord in the Temple, amongst the Doctors of Law. In this icon, Christ is represented as young in years, but filled with the wisdom of all eternity. Seated upon a decorative platform, He is raised above the religious teachers, who sit in the posture of students at His feet, amazed at His learning and teaching. They hold scrolls which represent the Old Testament Law and Prophets, while Christ Himself, the living Word of God, is the fulfillment of the law and the prophecies, in Person.

Luke 2:41-52 (English Standard Version)

Jesus as a Boy in the Temple

 ⁴¹Now^(A) his parents went^(B) to Jerusalem every year at^(C) the Feast of the Passover. ⁴²And when he was twelve years old,^(D) they went up according to custom. ⁴³And when the feast^(E) was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.^(F) His parents did not know it, ⁴⁴but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, ⁴⁵and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. ⁴⁶After three days they found him in the temple,^(G) sitting among^(H) the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸And when his parents^[a] saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold,^(I) your father and I have been searching for you in great distress." ⁴⁹And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that^(J) I must be in^(K) my Father’s house?"^{[b] 50}And^(L) they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. ⁵¹And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And^(M) his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.  ⁵²And Jesus^(N) increased in wisdom and in stature^[c] and in favor with God and man.

Notes:
This story of Jesus as a boy in the Temple is one of my favorites.  Growing up in my family home, there in the open in our home was a Bible for everyone to read.  Also, hanging on one of the walls was a picture of Jesus in the Temple just as the Evangelist has written above.  This picture of Jesus in the Temple was a gift to my Mother Theresa Hasham-Dunn from Rt. Rev. Chorbishop Louis Khalil.  This picture of Jesus was a special picture for my mother. This picture now hangs in my home and is constant reminder of the Child Jesus in the Temple, St. Theresa Maronite Catholic Church in Brockton, MA., Rt. Rev. Chorbishop Louis Khalil and my mother.  It is my prayer for you that the Child Jesus will always be with you, today and the coming year ahead.

The Birth of Our Lord - Maronite Icon of the Nativity

"Behold, a virgin, shall be with a child, and bear a Son and they shall call His name Emmanuel," which is translated, "God with us." (Mt 1:23; Is 7:14)

Description of the Icon

This icon of the Nativity is in honor of the Virgin Mary and her unique role in the mystery of the Incarnation. Around the oval mandala, containing the representation of the Nativity, depicted in decorative form, are shown many of the symbols of Our Lady and of the Incarnation that are found in the Holy Scriptures and described in the old Syriac Hymns of the Church, especially those of St. Ephraim. The angels, descending form heaven, act as attendants at this Holy Birth and as deacons at this sacramental mystery. Their hands are covered with cloths, in reverence and service to the Christ Child. Two angels reach down from heaven to announce the good news of the birth of a Savior; the simple, poor shepherds gladly respond. Joseph contemplates the awesomeness of this event. God is born a man.

Matthew, 1:16
 From the time after the exile in Babylon to the birth of Jesus the following ancestors are listed: ...Jacob, and Joseph, who married Mary, the mother of Jesus, who was called the Messiah.

The New Revised Standard Version of Matthew 2:1-12 describes the visit of the Magi:

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'" Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another path.

Genealogy Sunday - Maronite

Icon of Genealogy of Our Lord or Genealogy Sunday

"Rain down, you heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness." ( Is 45:8)

Description of Icon

In this icon, the genealogy of Our Lord is represented as the tree of Jesse, out of which grows the Messianic branch (Is 11:1). At the lower part of the tree, at the top of the trunk, is depicted Adam, the first man created in the image of God; at the top of the tree is Christ, the Perfect second Adam, born to redeem and save lost mankind. Between Adam and Christ are portrayed the most significant in the human line of genealogy. The entwining branches and leaves represent the fourteen generations from Abraham to Christ. We also see, in the top of the icon, portray of the Holy Trinity. God the Father is depicted by a Divine Hand reaching down into human history. In the center, at the top of the tree, is Christ the incarnate Son of God. At the top right is represented the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove. As for the shades of blue, they stand for the divine presence of God and for eternal light. The blues also stand for heaven and the greens for earth, as heaven and earth meet in genealogy of the Son of God.

This weekend we celebrate the Genealogy of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  We find in our bibles that there are two versions of the genealogy of Jesus in the New Testament.  One can be found in Matthew 1:1-17 and the other in Luke 3:22-38.  This basic aim of any such list of descendants in the scriptures is the connection of each era to God's progressive plan of salvation which reaches its fulfillment in Christ.

The genealogy of Matthew emphasizes that Jesus is the fulfillment of all the promises God mad to Abraham and David.  One can also note that there are four women, perhaps all gentiles that are also in this list.  the inclusion of these women may serve to indicate that Jesus cam to save all mankind and not just the Jews Mt. 28:19.  David was a sinner guilty of adultery and murder according to 2 Samuel 11:6 but is also included in the list, thus indicating that Jesus, who was without sin, was fully immersed in the sinfulness of humanity.

In Luke's Gospel it is more obvious in how it indicates the universal mission of Jesus.  He goes back from Jesus to Abraham, and all the way back to Adam, the son of God.  Therefore, showing Jesus as the New Adam, who begets a new humanity.

The Genealogies call us to trust in God's Plan of Salvation: all will be brought to fulfillment by the Lord in his own time and in his own way. In spite of difficulties, we are called to trust in the promises of the Lord.  Jesus himself, the Son of the Father promised the following: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not."

Post of the Day - Birth of John the Baptist

BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST ( Lk 1:57-66)

"And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord, to prepare His ways." ( Lk 1:76)



Description of this Icon:

This icon portrays the fulfillment of the promise of the angel to Zacharias. This joyful event is depicted in a traditional manner, especially in the background of the icon, where we see Elizabeth giving birth and all what surrounds it. The family is bathed in heavenly joy.

John is shown as conscious of his future role as Forerunner of Christ. Zacharias holds the central place, seated in the chair of prophecy, as the revelation from heaven descends upon him. Zacharias writes "His name is John", at that moment his tongue is loosened and he speaks praising God. This icon is full of greens, representing peace on earth and the revelation of God.