Traveling to Bethlehem

I'm writing this post early because this week, I'm on an actual 8-day silent retreat--meaning, no internet! Yeah!!! Please, pray for me and the other men with me.

Last week, I shared a little about the Coptic feast of the Entrance into Egypt, but we know that this was not the first time the Holy Family had to travel.

I love this icon written by Brother Claude Lane, O.S.B. particularly because Mary is clothed the same as when she appeared at Guadalupe. You can learn more about the particular symbolism in this icon here. The last little section connects the Holy Eucharist with Joe. There will be more on this connection next week!

By the way, did you know that the Aztec symbols in the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe indicate that she was pregnant. You can learn more about the symbolism in the Guadalupe image here.

Go Into the Desert

I've found it very interesting that in the Roman Rite, we do not celebrate a memorial of the Holy Family's flight into Egypt when King Herod tried to kill the infant Jesus--especially during these times when refugees are in the news frequently.

In the Coptic Orthodox Church, which is centrally in Egypt, this feast is of particular importance. Imagine that Jesus, Mary, and Joe visited and stayed in your country for several years. I would find that to be of particular importance too!

The Coptic Church celebrates the Holy Family's entrance into Egypt every year on June 1st, which they call the 24th of Pashons and is coming up this Saturday. The icon on the above is a Coptic icon. Check out this other blog post explaining the significance of Egyptian images in it.

Here are two other icons of the flight into Egypt:

 

Notice the difference in how Joe is depicted. In the first icon, Joe is depicted as an elderly man and there is a young man following; the young man is St. James, who is Joe's biological son by previous marriage according to the usual tradition that Joe was elderly. Also, notice that even though Joe is elderly in this icon, he's still carrying Jesus on his shoulders--giving witness to the tradition that even if Joe was elderly, he remained physically strong.

This past Monday, I started a 9-week spirituality "program," although, it feels more like a quasi-academic retreat. It has been a major part of the Catholic Tradition to consider times of retreat like going into the desert to pray. So, I ask for your prayers as I join the Holy Family in going into the desert for these next 8 1/2-weeks.

Let's take a 100 mile walk

Have you ever considered what it would have been like for Joe to walk along side of Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem? It certainly would have been a time of great trial for both of them. According to Google Maps, the recommended walking route now is about 100 miles. Could you imagine walking along side a donkey carrying a young mother, who is due to give birth any day now? I'm hard pressed to walk a single mile these days, let alone one hundred! Anything more than a 10 minute walk almost necessitates a car these days.

I came across a beautiful quote placed in the mouth of the Holy Mother of God to Joe that I would like to share with you:

O virgin, when Joseph went up to Bethlehem sounded by sorrow, thou didst cry to him: "Why art thou downcast and troubled, seeing me great with child? Why art thou wholly ignorant of the fearful mystery that comes to pass in me?  Henceforth, cast every fear aside and understand this strange marvel: for in my womb God now descends upon the earth for mercy's sake, and He has taken flesh.  thou shalt see Him according to His good pleasure, when He is born; and fill with joy thou shalt worship Him as Thy Creator, Whom the angels praise without ceasing in song and glorify with the father and the Holy Spirit."

I found it in another blog reflection on the Journey to Bethlehem, and I encourage you to take some time and read it. It also shares several beautiful Greek Icons of the Mary and Joe's journey.

Also, if you're not familiar with the Mexican tradition of Las Posadas, I encourage you to take some time and watch this short video describing the tradition.