Through Jewish Eyes: A New Way to Understand the Advent and Christmas Scriptures

You’ve heard the Biblical accounts of the Virgin Birth, but I’m willing to bet that (like most people) you misunderstand them. For example, were Mary and Joseph married at the time of the Annunciation? Why does Matthew refer to Joseph as Mary’s “husband,” and yet common translations of Luke have Mary saying to the angel, “I have no husband” (Matt. 1:19; Luke 1:34)? What does it mean that Joseph “took his wife,” or that Joseph “knew her not until she had borne a son” (Matt. 1:24-25)? And finally, why did Joseph consider divorcing Mary, and why does the angel respond by telling him not to be afraid?

Making Sense of One of the Most Shocking Verses in Scripture

James Tissot, Jesus Found in the Temple (1890) Yesterday’s Gospel has one of the most shocking verses in the New Testament, Luke 2:51, “And he [Jesus] went down with them [Mary and Joseph] and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.” Is there any… Continue reading Making Sense of One of the Most Shocking Verses in Scripture

What Should Christians Think About Adoptive Parenting?

Guido Reni, Saint Joseph with the Infant Jesus (1635) A week ago, a Democratic lobbyist named Hilary Rosen said that Mitt Romney’s wife Ann “has actually never worked a day in her life,” since she’s a stay-at-home mom. A lot of people, particularly stay-at-home parents, were understandably upset. But that doesn’t justify the response of the Catholic League,… Continue reading What Should Christians Think About Adoptive Parenting?

Looking to Mary as a Model of Obedience

I’t s no real surprise that the perfect model for obedience is Mary.  We see this on obvious display when the angel Gabriel comes to Her, and She consents to the Incarnation in total faith and complete obedience: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38).  It’s… Continue reading Looking to Mary as a Model of Obedience