When
a man walks in integrity and justice, happy are his children after him! — Proverbs 20:7
As time
passed after the espousals of Joseph and Mary, the holy couple lived a simple but happy life as they waited with joy for
the birth of their promised son. The
conception of a child is great news to eager parents, and we can imagine how
their friends and family rejoiced at the news. Joseph and Mary knew that he
wasn’t the child’s biological father, but that wouldn’t keep him from being a true father. He
would be excited, as most men would be, to tell the whole world that he was
going to be a father! Mary would marvel at Joseph’s anticipation and acceptance
in fulfilling God’s Will in naming and rearing the child as his own. She no
doubt treasured these mysteries in her Immaculate Heart – as she treasured the
other mysteries present in her life.
Mary treasured all these things,
pondering them in her heart. – St. Luke 2:19
♔ THE CENSUS ♔
As the days went by, the Holy Child grew within His tabernacle, the womb of the Blessed Virgin and His time was drawing near. Soon he would be in Bethlehem, which was his father’s birthplace, where he too would be born into the world. A census was ordered by Caesar Augustus, which meant that everyone had to return to the lands of their forefathers to register.
And Joseph
also went from Galilee out of the town of Nazareth into Judea to the town of
David, which is called Bethlehem . . . to register, together with Mary his
wife, who was with child. — St. Luke 2:4-5
♔ THE IMPORTANCE OF BETHLEHEM ♔
It is important to note the significance of Bethlehem being the birthplace of both St. Joseph and Our Lord Jesus for three reasons:
1. Jesus was foreseen to be a descendent of the great King David and therefore Joseph, his earthly father, would have to have been of the House of David.
2. Joseph’s reporting to Bethlehem at that time, with the Virgin Mary close to giving birth to the Messiah, also added to the fulfillment of the prophecy of Micah 5:1-2 which announced that this place would bring Our Lord to the world:
But you, Bethlehem . . . too small to be among the clans of Judea, from you shall come forth . . . one who is to be ruler in Israel; whose origin is from . . . ancient times. — Micah 5:1-2
3. Also, the word “Bethlehem” (“Beit Lehem” in Hebrew), means “House of Bread” and this in itself is of tremendous significance since Jesus Christ called himself “The Living Bread”:
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” — St. John 6:51
Just as the Joseph of the Old Testament provided bread for his brothers when they sought him in hunger (Genesis 41:55-57, 42:25), how much more did St. Joseph, in Bethlehem, present to us the true living Bread, Jesus Christ. He held this life-giving bread in his folded arms and guarded it as a storehouse, arms—eager to give to mankind so that we would be nourished. Thus he is praised in the prayers of the Little Office:
Hail glory of the patriarchs, steward of God’s holy Church, who didst preserve the Bread of life and the Wheat of the elect.
♔ JOURNEY OF 5 DAYS ♔
Joseph had to report to Bethlehem, the birthplace of King David, which is roughly 120 kilometers (80 miles) south of Nazareth, where he and Mary were living. To reach Bethlehem they would have to cross the rough terrain of Samaria into Judea. No doubt Joseph was hesitant to bring Mary along, since she was soon to give birth and needed to rest and keep comfortable, but Mary being the devoted wife that she was, desperately wanted to accompany her husband on this journey. During these times, travel was unsafe and was full of dangers such as the threat of wild animals and roadside thieves, and we think of how much harder it would be to make this trip with a nine months pregnant wife! In addition to the outward threats, fatigue and discomfort would also take their toll on the couple as they made their way. Joseph and Mary most likely joined a caravan on their way to Bethlehem, so as to be safer and more secure in the event of an accident or a raid by bandits. Perhaps they would even encounter friends and family members also going to Bethlehem for the registration. This caravan would have been a group of men, women, children, camels, and donkeys that would walk in the heat of day and sleep—with one eye open—at night, for to travel such distance, especially in the desert, could be perilous, however their spirits would be calmed with a reassuring nightly prayer before succumbing to their exhaustion:
“O Lord, let the light of your countenance shine upon us! You put gladness into my heart, more than when grain and wine abound. As soon as I lie down, I fall peacefully asleep, for you alone, O Lord, bring security . . .” — Psalm 4:7-9
This humble journey to Bethlehem was the first Corpus Christi procession to take place, except the Body of Christ was enclosed in His mother’s womb, rather than being exposed for veneration by the faithful. Mary’s mantle was the canopy over the Hidden Jesus who is our Bread of Life, and Joseph’s sandal prints on the dusty earth were as palms laid out for the Lord to tread on. First instituted by Jesus Himself at the Last Supper, the Eucharist has been revered by the Roman Catholic Church and has been given a feast day of celebration, the Feast of Corpus Christi (Latin for “Body of Christ”). It is observed on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday (or on the following Sunday). Traditionally on the feast day of Corpus Christi, a consecrated Host is carried in procession under the shade of a canopy for the veneration of the faithful, as flowers and palm branches are strewn upon the ground, making a pathway for the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
♔ ONWARD ♔
This journey to Bethlehem surely must have taken its toll on Joseph’s feet, but with each step he took, he knew that he was moving closer to fulfilling what the angel had told him. The heat and terrain were at times barely tolerable but Joseph would no doubt comfort Our Lady as best he could, as they journeyed toward their destination. Joseph’s first action, whenever they rest by the way, or stop for the night, is to make ready a comfortable place for the Blessed Virgin to sit and rest.
. . . Joseph spoke so comfortingly to the Blessed Virgin, he is so good, and so sorry that the journey is difficult. — Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich
♔ NO VACANCY ♔
Arriving in
Bethlehem and searching for shelter during their stay, the holy couple was
rejected by the innkeepers and residents. We sense that Joseph begins to feel
desperate at not finding a place to stay. And to add to this, the time for
Jesus to be born is at hand. Joseph felt overwhelmed and frantically knocked on
every door he could.
Finally, he
went to one last house and begged for help. The
apologized and stated that he too was out of room, and the only open
spot is a cave just outside of town, which the animals use. Joseph accepted the
man’s suggestion, feeling relieved but also ashamed. Joseph felt as though he
had failed, that he could not do better for his beloved, and his most pure
heart was pierced with sorrow.
It was nine
o’clock at night when the most faithful Joseph, full of bitter and heartrending
sorrow, returned to his most prudent spouse and said: “My sweetest Lady, my
heart is broken with sorrow at the thought of not being able to shelter thee as thou deserves . . .” — Venerable Maria de Agreda
Not only was Our Lord’s birth in Bethlehem predicted, but also the surroundings in which he would be born. The rejection of the townspeople, the donkey which carried the unborn Jesus into Bethlehem, and even the animals of the stable, is foretold to us in the books of Isaiah and Zachariah. In the Gospel of St. Matthew we can also find an appropriate phrase which sums up the rejection in Bethlehem:
An ox knows its owner, and an ass, its master’s crib; but Israel does not know, my people have not understood. — Isaiah 1:3
See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, meek and riding on the foul of an ass. — Zachariah 9:9
I was a stranger and you did not take me in… — St. Matthew 25:43
Not only was Our Lord’s birth in Bethlehem predicted, but also the surroundings in which he would be born. The rejection of the townspeople, the donkey which carried the unborn Jesus into Bethlehem, and even the animals of the stable, is foretold to us in the books of Isaiah and Zachariah. In the Gospel of St. Matthew we can also find an appropriate phrase which sums up the rejection in Bethlehem:
An ox knows its owner, and an ass, its master’s crib; but Israel does not know, my people have not understood. — Isaiah 1:3
See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, meek and riding on the foul of an ass. — Zachariah 9:9
I was a stranger and you did not take me in… — St. Matthew 25:43
