Home Coming (Reflection on Advent)

The church bell awoke her. The song from the loud speaker reminded her that it was the first Sunday of Advent. She sat up on her bed, listened to its appealing lyrics and its slow rhythm. Out of the window the grey color between day and night took her sometime to recognize her familiar neighborhood. Everything was so still that she could hear the gentle cool breeze penetrating into her skin. She never ever smelt or tasted something as delicious as the moisture of the twilight of the first day of December. She was alone, the stillness of the twilight stirred her heart and she realized that she was having an eccentric feeling that she could not describe. It was neither happy nor sad but she knew it was something. It disturbed her. Even during the five –year college period, that strange feeling came back at every beginning of Advent.

It did not come back after that and withered from her memory since then. Thus she felt sorry for it. Sometimes she tried to listen to the same old Advent song but she was helpless. At this moment she realizes that it was a precious feeling that she has been longing for and it is clear to her now.

The song in the speaker reminded her of her memory in the parish where the choir sang at the dawn of every Advent. Yet it was not just that. Her heart went with the song to the deep blue sky which triggered the nostalgia for home: the home of her parents and the home of her self. She felt the deep yearning for the inner home of her heart. The urging was so strong that it led her to look for solitude and to listen to the silence deep in her heart. She found herself going out to visit sick friends, writing letters to her parents, sparing some of her money preparing the Christmas project for the homeless. The season of Advent was passing slowly, peacefully and meaningfully. She was satisfied and grateful.

It is raining on this first day of Advent. She is recollecting, praying that she may experience being home again. So many things are preoccupying her. She realizes that the familiar Advent song is too soft, too slow that she cannot get into it. Oh, how her heart feels empty! It is restless; it is yearning for peace, for solitude. She feels that she is trapped. It is only the first day of Advent but her mind is preoccupied with so many things to be done for Christmas. How many parties to prepare, what gifts to give and to receive, what decorations to put, how many cards to send, what songs to sing, etc. She is caught in anxieties and too many concerns.

She remembered her friend who one day shared with her that the road the least traveled and the farthest is the path to one’s own heart, because it is too rough and unclear sometimes. She has many reasons to be excused from reality. Yet her heart’s desire does not let her just go on. She does not want another exhausted Christmas. She wants to relive again the church’s bell, the old Advent song, the delicious dew and the mysterious color of the twilight of December. She misses the urging disturbance that gives meaning to her heart’s content.

by

-Sr. Le Thi Nhon Hoa, ACI ,

SUCCESS IS WITHIN YOU

How things look on the outside of you

Always depends on how things are on the inside of you.

Your thoughts have brought you to where you are today.

Your actions always mirror your thoughts.

Take a good look at where you are and what you're doing, and you can understand what you've been thinking.

Your mind is your true essence.


.Your behavior is the perpetual revealing of yourself.

What you do, tells everyone who and what you are.

Change your thoughts and you can change life.

You can start this process at anytime.


Why not start today?


When you plant lettuce,

If it does not grow well,

You don't blame the lettuce.

You look for reasons it is not doing well.

It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun.

You never blame the lettuce.

Yet if we have problems with our friends or family, we blame the other person.

But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like the lettuce.

Blaming has no positive effect at all, nor does trying to persuade using reason and arguments.

That is my experience.

No blame, no reasoning, no argument, just understanding.

Life will go on and on

There is no one in this earth who has not faced traumas in life. Almost all must have gone through such phases in life but with different intensities. May be the death of a loved ones or a friend or it can the continued state of illness and sufferings of some one close to you. Each one of us must have faced it at some juncture of our life.

Some of us have the rare ability to overcome such situations with class. But the majority finds it difficult to pass through. For them it is the end of the road, nothing but darkness visible to them. Then their thoughts start drifting seeking help. Few among them goes behind instant relives like drugs, few think ending up this life thinking that it will be the ultimate way to escape from the fearful situation. But friends to get rid of this life we need courage for just few seconds, but to live life to its full we need lot of courage and presence of mind. A real faith in GOD and true friends , whom we can confide with will help us out from such painful situations and the support form our close ones is also an added advantage.

When you realize you are going to fail before the hurdles of life think about the transcendental presence of GOD and the love he shower up on us .Look around you and see the others who suffers too. Lend your ears to them also. Keep yourself engaged all the time, so that you can surpass the negative strokes. There is always hope just like after the sun set we awaits for dawn , after the rain GOD sends rainbows .The one who can make a butterfly from a caterpillar can surely make something new for us. Solutions can be painful at first but with God’s help they can be found. There is nothing in this world that time cannot heel, however deep your wounds are. Keep yourself going with right faith in GOD, with what ever name you call him, with, and rightly chosen circle of friends and relatives. Friends still there is hope, you haven’t lost anything wake up and realize that the life must go on and on……………

10 Most Important things

LOVE:

The Special Feeling That Makes You Feel
All Warm And Wonderful.

RESPECT:

Treating Others As Well As You Would Like To Be Treated.

APPRECIATION:

To Be Grateful For All The Good Things Life Has To Offer.

HAPPINESS:

The Full Enjoyment Of Each Moment. A Smiling Face.

FORGIVENESS:

The Ability To Let Things Be Without Anger.

SHARING:

The Joy Of Giving Without Thought Of Receiving.

HONESTY:

The Quality Of Always Telling The Truth.

INTEGRITY:

The Purity Of Doing What's Right, No Matter What.

COMPASSION:

The Essence Of Feeling Another's Pain, While Easing Their Hurt.

PEACE:

The Reward For Living The 10 Most Important Things

7 Qualities of a Good Leader

1. A good head to be able to evaluate the quality of ideas and Suggestions presented to him.

2. A good heart to be able to be compassionate and fair with the people.

3. A good spirit to be able to hear the voice of God. Some paths God will lead you down don't make head and heart sense at the
Time.

4. A good eye to be able to see things other people cannot.

5. A good tongue to be able to communicate the vision to the People and motivate them to follow.

6. A good hand to be able to do the things that need to be
Done. Knowing the right way is not the same as doing it.

7. A good foot to set an example for the people. A minor flaw Can outshine a major mission in the eyes of small minds.

~An Original by James Bronner~

STEP FORWARD

A thousand disappointments in the past cannot equal the power of one positive action right now. Go ahead and go for it.


If you've previously told yourself that it can't be done, this is the moment to change your assumption. When you can dream it, imagine it and visualize it, you can do it.


Instead of making excuses, make some progress. Instead of looking back with regret, step forward with enthusiasm.


Choose to define yourself based on the person you know you can become. Choose to see your life in terms of the best of what is possible.


If you focus too much on the past, you'll be held back by limitations that may no longer even exist. Instead, look forward with positive expectation, and you'll find yourself quickly moving in a forward direction.


A new, fulfilling reality is calling to you. Step forward right now, and begin to make it happen.

-Unknown Author-

Stepping Stones

The Lord came to me like a dream one day and asked,

"Why do you sorrow?"
I answered, "Lord, my life is so full of pain,
I can't face one more tomorrow."

The Lord sat down beside me,
and gently took my hand.
He said,
"Let me explain to you and then you'll understand.

Each sorrow is a stepping stone
you must surmount each day,
And every stepping stone you climb
is a sorrow that's passed away.

The road of life is a mountainside,
with crevices in which to be caught,
But as you struggle on your way,
I, the Rock, will lend support.

Every stepping stone you climb,
makes spirit and heart grow strong.
Exercising character and faith
this road seems painful and long.

The way is paved with stepping stones,
to uplift your heart and soul,
Though difficult, they aid your way,
to a City paved with gold.

I know that you are tired,
for I too have walked this way,
My sorrows did they multiply,
but I cleared the stones away.

I left my rock to lift you up,
I left behind my story.
To give you strength to make your climb,
to that special place in glory.

And never fear, the Rock is here,
You'll never climb alone
Surmount life's sorrows, continue on,
For they are but stepping stones.

May peace be in your heart
May love surround you
And may your day be blessed.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997), Albanian-born Roman Catholic nun, founder of the Missionaries of Charity, and Nobel laureate. Originally named Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, she entered the Order of the Sisters of Our Lady of Loreto in Ireland at the age of 18. She trained in Dublin and Darjiling, before taking her religious vows in 1937. While serving as principal of a Roman Catholic high school in Calcutta (now Kolkata), she was moved by the presence of the sick and dying on the city's streets. In 1948 she was granted permission to leave her post at the convent and begin a ministry among the sick.

In 1950 Mother Teresa and her associates were approved within the archdiocese of Calcutta as the Missionaries of Charity. Later the order was recognized as a pontifical congregation under the jurisdiction of Rome. Members of the congregation take four vows on acceptance by the religious community. Required in addition to the three basic vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience is a fourth vow pledging service to the poor, whom Mother Teresa described as the embodiment of Christ.

In 1952 Mother Teresa opened the Nirmal Hriday (“Pure Heart”) Home for Dying Destitutes in Calcutta. Subsequently she extended her work to five continents. In recognition of her efforts she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. She was forced to scale down her activities in 1990 because of declining health, though she continued to work and travel, most notably in 1991 when she undertook a tour of her missions worldwide. Her increasing frailty became apparent when she resigned from running the Missionaries of Charity in March 1997, and she died on September 5 of that year. Mother Teresa's book, A Simple Path, was published in 1995.


Mother Teresa's Life time line

1910 Born Aug. 27 as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Skopje, Yugoslavia, what is now Macedonia. Her father is an Albanian builder. She's the youngest of three children.
1928 Joined a religious order and took the name Teresa. She came to India and taught at a convent school in Calcutta, in state of west bangal.
1937 Took her final vows
1948 Left the convent to work alone in the slums. She received medical training and education in Paris.
1950 Became citizen of India. The Missionaries of charity started.
1952 House for the dying opened
1957 The Missionaries of Charity started work with lepers and in many disaster areas of the world.
1962 Wins her first prize for her humanitarian work: the Padma Shri award for "distinguished service." Over the years she uses the money from such prizes to found dozens of new homes
1971 Pope Paul VI honors Mother Teresa by awarding her the first Pope John XXIII Peace Prize.
1979 Received Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the poor.
1993 Breaks three ribs in fall in Rome in May; hospitalized for malaria in August in New Delhi; undergoes surgery to clear blocked blood vessel in Calcutta in September.
1997 Died on 5th September in Calcutta, India.

The Gift of a Real Friend

A friend is one of the nicest things you can have,
and one of the best things you can be.
A friend is a living treasure,
and if you have one, you have one of
the most valuable gifts in life.

A friend is the one who will always be beside you,
through all the laughter,
and through each and every tear.
A friend is the one thing you can always rely on;
the someone you can always open up to;
the one wonderful person who always believes
in you in a way that no one else seems to.
A friend is a sanctuary.
A friend is a smile.

A friend is a hand that is always holding yours,
no matter where you are,
no matter how close or far apart you may be.
A friend is someone who is always there
and will always, always care.
A friend is a feeling of forever in the heart.

A friend is the one door that is always open.
A friend is the one to whom you can give your key.
A friend is one of the nicest things you can have,
and one of the best things you can be

by

~ Collin McCarthy ~

Posted by

Robin

Payatas is a place of graveness

Hello Brothers and Friends,

It is my pleasure to share my experiences with you. I go to my Apostolic Formative Activities every Saturday. Bros. Walter, Claudius, Andrew and I go to Payatas. I always wait for the Saturday to come. I like to go there and be with the people and I think that my companions are the same as me. We begin our journey soon around 7.45am. We travel by the local transport tricycle and Jeepney. We take a tricycle from MAPAC and go to Conception. Conception is a name of a market place. It is a little big town connecting the cities. There is a church dedicated to the Immaculate Conception that’s way the place is called Conception. Then we wait for the Jeepney to Sandigan. We often have to wait some time for us to get the Jeepney. It is a rich experience to see the people in the Jeepney. Adults are going to the work, while many of the young people are going to their job or to college. Some mothers with the children they are going to the place where they want to go. When the children are with the parents it is a time for them to ask lot of questions. Some look at us as a strange people when we smile at them they tell their mothers about our smiles. I really enjoy playing with them. As they say “Loneliness is the prison of the human spirit.” One way it is true also. Once again we take the tricycle to Payatas. It is a difficult place to go to as it is a highest place the tricycle try it best to go on this way. It finally reaches our destination.

Then there is a welcome by all. Even the wind of the place welcomes us. The children those who play in the street they come and great us and shake our hands. We too welcome them also and are friendly with them. It is a time when we feel the value of our being there. As they say “The quality of our human existence is grounded in our relationships.” I have felt the value of going there simply to be with the people.

Payatas is a place where very poor people are living and they do not have good houses. Most of the people there do not have a job they work on “Smokey Mountain.” Smokey Mountain is a place where the waste of Manila city is dumped. This mountain rising some 30 to 40 meters (98 to 131 feet) from the valley floor the mound of garbage covers 10 hectares and takes in sweeping views of the surrounding countryside. Daily morning the trucks start to come at 4am. Over the next 17 hours some 430 to 450 garbage trucks will deposit an estimated 1,200 tons of garbage at the site. For the 30,000 residents who live around the garbage-mountain it is their only source of income. The teams of cavengers who pick over each truckload of refuse are lucky if they make P100 a day for their efforts. Down in the slums cottage industries thrive as thousands of people including children, sort through baskets brought down from the mound. A broken concrete bridge crosses a narrow river where boys wash plastic in putrid water. It is dried and bundled up and sold for recycling. In one yard are piles of discarded backpacks that will be washed, repaired and later sold in markets in the poorer districts of Metro Manila. Drinking water is brought in by truck daily and sold to residents and some dwellings have electricity.

There is center run by the FCJ sisters (Faithful Companion of Jesus). They help the people to in many ways. They have activities for all, starting from the old people to young parents, youths, students and the children. They also help them to improve their housing and provide water tank to save water for some of the people. The Brothers go there to help the people to repair houses and also build water tanks.

When we arrive at the center it is a time for us to greet the workers and to get ready for work. We have two professionals who lead us. Some of us already know the work expected of us. We build houses and water tanks. Now a days we build water tanks as they do not have running water in their houses and they have to buy the water from the truck which comes. Water costs them P40 ($1) for the 20 liters. Through building the tank we help them to collect the rain water and have running water in their houses. It takes a week to build the tank. It holds 750 liters of water.

On my first day at Payatas I had an unforgetful experience where we robbed by the young guy who threatened us with a gun. After that I was afraid to go there and was not happy about returning. I saw my life as important and then I came across this words “Try it, you might like it.” This helped me to learn, from that frightening experience and I realized the need for the Brothers to go there. I have a feeling that the people have confidence in us. They provide us with good security and they promised us it would not happen again. I also try my best to be friendly with the young people. Now I have great confidence in going there and I enjoy doing this work with the people. As they say “You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give.” I really like the people at Payatas even though they are very poor they live a happy life. They always smile at us and they welcome us as their own people. When we work in their houses they share with us what they have. They have many values like love for one another, sharing, welcoming, respect for all, these I have seen.
There is so much to learn from them that’s why I like to go there. I hope you can imagine with me what is the reality of their life is. I ask you to pray for the people there and the workers in the center and especially for the children and youths those who often have to abandon their study because of the lack of family finance.

By

Bro. Robinston

REFLECTION ON "MARVELOUS COMPANION"

BOOK REVIEW ON "MARVELOUS COMPANION"

1. Introduction:

The term 'community', in general, has diverse understanding among people. For some, community refers to a group of people who live in a particular area and, for some others, community means relationship or solidarity with other people. There is no one absolute final description of community or community life, nor there is a universal model or structure to it. However, for vowed Religious people, a community is and should be Gospel-based in its nature and purpose. While the ideal community epitomizes the Kingdom proclaimed by Jesus, life in an actual community, with all its struggles and attempts to be a witness to that Kingdom, is a journey towards it. Because the Kingdom is a communal reality it is centered on the person of Jesus. Also, the essence of community life is love from which springs the compassion that Jesus had for the poor during his public ministry. As Champagnat pointed out in his final testament, charity and love among the Brothers of the community reflect the nature of the Kingdom initiated and lived by Jesus – love for one's self, love for others and love for God. Beneath the gloss of such great ideals and norms, however, lie the challenge and bitter experiences of an actual community life. Let me highlight some aspects of community life from the book called “Marvelous Companion”.

A. The beginning of Community life:

The origin of the community life lies in the love of the Trinity. The Father wants all people to form one community in which all will be equal as brothers and sisters. Jesus also built a community with his apostles. We in this age answer the call of Christ by living together in the community of consecrated persons.

B. Marist Community life:

The vows which are an expression of our love of the Lord are a unifying force in the community. The vow of chastity frees the heart from a possessive love, and invites us to love everyone equally. The vow of poverty puts all that we are and everything that we have at the service of others. Obedience directs the community to seek and carry out God's will in daily life and in all the activities.

It is a place where we accept each other with our differences which are yet complementary. We try to develop interest in each others life and work. We accept with simplicity a Brother's admonition. We try to put aside our egoism and touchiness and find tactful ways to help others in the community. We learn to ask pardon and to give it, though in some cultures it is very hard for men to do this. We try to develop a heart which is free from anger and bitter feelings in order to build up a friendly atmosphere. Community is a place where we fall and stand and go ahead with the help of other members.

C. We gather around Mary:

Mary is our model as Marist Brothers. We try to imitate her qualities in our lives. We also gather around Mary like the apostles on the day of Pentecost. We are always conscious of the presence of Mary among us; she helps us to live as brothers. We remain attentive to the needs of the community and the world like Mary at the Visitation and at Cana. We take her virtues of simplicity and hard work for our lives. We try to be simple, humble and available like her. We see Mary with all her emotions and feelings like our sisters or mothers.

D. Community in the spirit of our founder:

Father Champagnat formed the community of the first brothers having an idea of the genuine family. He loved his Brothers and he told them, “that I live only for you and everyday I ask God's blessings for all of you”. The Brothers also loved him as their father. Living with Champagnat, living close to Mary our good mother, they grew steadily in the sense of Brotherhood. We live our community life in a great family spirit, thus fulfilling the wish of our Founder: “Love one another as Jesus Christ has loved you”.

E. We are all Brothers in the community:

In our communities we see the young Brother as a gift from God and a sign of Mary's care for us. A young Brother brings to us the richness of a young man's heart and mind, with its enthusiasm and its quest for authenticity.

A mature Brother, enriched as he is by the experience of his successes and failures, contributes his dynamism and balance to the community, and in return, receives support and encouragement to enter ever more fully into his vocation. The perseverance of the elderly Brothers is a living sign of God's faithfulness.

F. The praying Community:

Praying together is one of the features of our community life. Since our faith in Jesus has brought us together, it is above all, our prayer that builds up the community each day. We are all jointly responsible for this prayer and it reaches its highest level especially in the Eucharist when we all come together as one family.

G. The apostolic community:

Our communities are apostolic; we are engaged in different types of ministries or works. The very fact that it gives witness to the brotherly love of consecrated people makes the community an evangelizing force in the local Church. The openness the community has for pastoral action leads it to accept as its own the apostolic work of each of its Brothers. Whatever may be their occupation, they participate fully in the community so that love may be strengthened.

H. Communication and Silence:

Community recreation and sharing of our views help us to build up family spirit. The community meetings encourage us to listen and speak so that our community spirit can grow. We bring simplicity and good will to these meetings and take an active part in them. We do not allow ourselves to be discouraged when difficulties and tensions arise.

We allow time for silence because it opens us to the mystery of others thus preparing us for heart-to-heart communication and sustains it. It leads us out of love for our brothers, to respect times for prayer, for work and for rest.

3. Reflection:

I have reviewed the book and I like to make some of my own reflection about the book and my own experience in the community life. I really enjoyed reading the book “Marvelous Companion” written by Brother Sean D. Sammon. I would like to talk about the five aspects of community life. let me explore them.

First, community, as Sean said, is not a family. We do not exercise power as we may do in a family life. However, the different elements of family life such as concern for others, respect for elders, sharing of responsibilities, maintaining unity among members of the family and individual projects, are inherent and, at times, inevitable in an actual community life. Unlike a family in which children grow under the guidance and supervision of powerful parents, members in an actual community have both shared responsibility and mutual interest in the mission and vision of the community as well in the life of the members of that community. Hence, family is not a healthy and appropriate image of community life.

Second, community is not a place for survival. A family can be a place of “security and privacy” but community is not so. Community is a place where individuals are prepared for social involvement because the nature of a Religious community is missionary. Individuals are encouraged to reach out rather than withdraw from public responsibilities or obligations. We believe that we have been chosen not for ourselves but for others. Hence, the demands of community life are very strong and it is crucial to form a healthy and mature community.

Third, members of a community are both independent and interdependent. While there is freedom to choose and act, the choice should be reasonable and actions should be responsible. Above all, there exists a sense of belongingness among the members of the community. As our Constitutions states, we are different yet complementary. No one is left to act on his own because every one has committed himself to the fulfillment of the one charism that is central to the Institute, that is basis for community life and that binds people of contrasting personalities together.

Fourth, “Mutual encouragement and challenge” among the members of a community mark the stability and quality of the individuals and of the community as a whole. At the same time, disappointment and discouragement are anticipated outcomes in relationship among the members. We will not or may not always find one hundred per cent conformity at the time of decision making, yet, we are called to decide what is right and appropriate for the well-being of every one in the community, taking into account the consequences of such decisions on all community members those involved.

Fifth, community becomes a place of sharing and growth when strengths of each member are recognized and encouraged while limitations are accepted and rightly challenged so that the vision and mission of the community may be accomplished. According Sean, “genuine religious community is aimed at self-transcendence rather than self-fulfillment”. This, in fact, points to how we can be counter-cultural in a multi-cultural or international community such as MAPAC.

As I have explored the five aspect of community life now I would like to give my reflection. I think the Community life is easy to define in the abstract, but giving structure and form to it in the concrete circumstances is challenging. I think community life is one place where the human qualities and weaknesses are evident. People with different cultures, languages and customs come together and share everything like the early Christians. I can also see this community aspect in the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and the Holy Family at Nazareth. First and foremost, the life together with our brothers challenges me to form and nurture a loving heart. Without that, I can survive, but can't flourish. This loving heart is the core of the community life for me. It will channel all my virtues and values towards the other members of the community. If I am able to love a person then I can see God's presence in him. The virtue of charity is another important aspect in this life; I believe charity begins at home. Community life encourages me to be open, life giving, hospitable, tender, prayerful and a brother to all in the fraternity. It is a challenge but community is a place where we overcome selfishness and sensitivity. We learn to forgive and accept forgiveness. It is a place where we share our joys and sorrows and grow in friendship.

Community life can be a source of my strength and mutual support, where we help one another to grow physically, mentally and spiritually. We become the strength of each other especially during the times of difficulties and problems. In the community life we strive for a common goal and give response to a divine call. We help one another to grow with all our capabilities. I think the genuine religious community is aimed at self- transcendence rather than self-fulfillment. Community life can be a very challenging place because people come from different backgrounds and cultures. People can get into habits which cause of alcoholism or other addictive behaviors, chronic complaining and negativity. Some can be aggressive in their attitudes, and some of them can hold the feelings of bitterness and anger. The Marist community welcomes all who come, as if receiving Jesus in person.

Solitude, even loneliness, is another important part of the community life. I think it provides the means or it can be a source for growing closer to God, to my own self and to other people. I think solitude and time alone can help us to come out of our comfort zones and think about others. I think it can also help me to understand that the world and my own concerns are not most important, and there is one who is greater than all. Solitude and time alone can also help me to understand my feelings and emotions and can lead me to the highest good. Hence the community life is the source to transcend ourselves; it also helps us to be faithful and committed to our vocations. A healthy community life is a blessing from God where He dwells with the community members and they live with Him.

BY

BRO. ROBIN FMS.

4. Sources:

1. Constitutions and Statutes, Little Brothers of Mary, 8^th December 1986.
2. Marvelous Companion, Sammon Sean D, Institute of the Marist Brothers, vol 31, no. 2, 25^thby March 2005, Rome.
   

The Woman of First Century

The Woman of First Century

General information of Mary in the Matthew Gospel

1. Location and number of appearances:

I. Chapter 1: 16 Genealogy,

II. Chapter 1: 18-20 The Birth of Jesus,

III. Chapter 2: 11 Visit of wise men,

IV. Chapter 2: 13-14 Escape to the Egypt,

V. Chapter 2: 20 Return from Egypt,

VI. Chapter 12: 46 The true kindred of Jesus (visit of His mother and brothers)

VII. Chapter 13: 55 The rejection of Jesus in Nazareth,

VIII. Chapter 27: 60-61 The burial of Jesus (this appearance is not clear)

2. Titles given to Mary in Matthew Gospel:

v Jesus: Mary is mentioned as Jesus’ Mother in several places chapter 1:18, chapter 2: 11 chapter 2: 13, 14, 20.

v Virgin: chapter 1: 23, Mary mentioned as a virgin here but it is reveled in words 24-25.

v Your wife: Here it mentioned as Joseph’s wife.

3. Gender: Female

4. Age: No reference

5. Marital status: Married

6. Occupation: No reference

7. Place of residence:

v Bethlehem, Egypt, Nazareth (Chapter 2: 13- 23).

8. Relatives:

v Jesus: The first born son (ch1: 25) Is his mother called Mary? Ch13: 55

v Joseph: husband of Mary (ch1: 16)

v The Brothers of Jesus (Children): Jesus’ brothers may have been related to Mary. (Ch 12: 46) the following names are given, James, Joseph, Simon and Judas (Ch 13: 55).

v The Sisters of Jesus (Children): Jesus’ sisters must relate to Mary (ch13: 56).

The Narrator’s Portrayal of the Character:

v The Genealogy (ch 1: 1-16)

Mary's role in the genealogy places her in a more prominent insider position. She is a woman, but not a foreigner. More importantly, unlike Luke's Gospel, this traces the lineage to Joseph. Matthew's Gospel traces up to Mary. The genealogy does not describe her as the wife of Joseph. Instead, he is described as her husband, placing her in the more central role and underscoring her heritage in the history of the women of Israel. Like them, she is a key figure in the history of salvation. Matthew is saying that in the case of the Old Testament women, God overcomes all struggles and in Mary’s case even the complete absence of a human father. Matthew presents Mary as God’s perfect instrument in bringing to fruition, the messianic hopes of Israel. Also because of the openness to God in their lives God was able to work through them. “But to Jacob was born Joseph, the husband of Mary, by whom,” that is in the feminine form in the Greek, referring only to Mary, “was born Jesus who is called Christ.” In the Bible Joseph is never called anything other than the husband of Mary, never is Joseph called the father of Jesus.

Relations to other characters to the characters examined:

Matthew imaginatively begins with a family record of Jesus Christ, son of David and son of Abraham. This record is not a family tree but to confirm that Jesus is the messiah of David he begins with Abraham and finishes with Jesus. Matthew mentions 4 women from Old Testament and Mary in the genealogy. First woman Tamar (Genesis 39:24) she posed as a harlot to seduce her father in low. Second women Rahap (Joshua 2:1) she was a prostitute. Third women Ruth (Ruth: 3: 1-18) she seduced Boaz. Fourth women Bathsheba (2Samuel: 11) Uriah’s wife, committed adultery with David. Then Mary mentioned she found to be with child before marriage.

The narrator portrayal of the character:

v The birth of Jesus: (ch1: 18-25)

Mary presented as the mother of Jesus and a child bearer. Then she has engaged to be married, but before the marriage she conceives through the Holy Sprit. It looks that Mary has little fear of this incident, because Joseph was trying to leave her. But the Angel helps Mary and reveals to Joseph about Mary’s conceiving of a child. Then Joseph acceptance of Mary as his wife might make her happy and joyful in her self. The narrator mentions about the virginal conception. He gives a account for the old testament. The ways he narrates the story, clearly tells the virginal conception.

The action and the speech of the character:

It looks here as it Mary was worried about her engagement with Joseph because she has conceived a child. We can imagine how difficult it is for a woman to bear a child with out marriage. I think Mary might be in a difficult situation. By the help of God she became happy about her child because she was accepted by Joseph and he became husband of Mary. The happiest thing for Mary is being the mother of Jesus. As it mentions in the text that Jesus as the savior of the world, bearing a son who will save the world.

The reactions to the character and other character being mentioned:

It is popular in all the infancy narratives that true Angel of the Lord comes as a messenger of God. It always brings good news to the people and Mary also. I think Mary might have been joyful in the angel presence. It brings salvation to the world. Joseph is the next character, he does not want to accept Mary, he wanted to leave her because of her conception before the marriage. But he realizes God’s work in Mary through the angel in his dream. I think, he was afraid to accept Mary as his wife. This is nature in a man when the women is already pregnant then he does not accept her as his wife. Mary was amazed or saddened by this rejection by Joseph.

The narrator portrayal of the character:

v Visit of wise men (ch 2: 11)

Here Mary is portrayed as a sub-character and she is not the main actor in the scene. She comes in and shown to be looking after the child. We see the caring mother here. She is mentioned as a mother of Jesus. She was very happy about the child that’s why she is always there with Jesus as it is mentioned in the text. She welcomed the wise men and their homage to the child may strengthen her faith. She might be very proud of this child because he is the king of Jews.

The action and the speech of the character:

Mary might have been thinking about the wise men, and wondering about how they knew about her child born in a manger. When she saw the homage she might think it is unnatural and she might wonder that the star can lead three people from a different part of the world and how they can come together as one group to visit the child. If Mary knew these things she might be more confused or she might strengthen her faith and believe in God.

The reactions to the character and other character being mentioned:

When the wise men entered the house they saw the child with the Mary his mother. The wise men may think about the caring mother. The wise men overjoyed when the star stopped at the house. Here the star is also very important that God can work in any people and any thing for the goodness.

The narrator’s portrayal of the character:

v Escape to the Egypt (ch 2: 13-15)

Here the name of Mary is not mentioned but she is mentioned as Jesus’ mother. We can presume that she might be Mary she is not mentioned as wife of Joseph. It seems critical to me that Mary and Joseph married. Joseph may be a helper to Mary. She was a courageous woman too.

The action and the speech of the character:

She is a very strong woman, she is not afraid of going to another country she went with Joseph wherever he asked her to go. She had a very faithful husband who gave her more strength. I say a very faithful husband because even though the child is not from his he is trying to help her to save the child. She is not given a title as a wife of Joseph. She may have felt the help of God through an Angel and Joseph. It may have strengthen her faith in God and believe that God is always with her.

The reactions to the character and other character being mentioned:

The other characters are an Angel, Joseph and Jesus. The angel of the Lord does his work as usual, Mary might think, “why does the angel appear to me and is always telling the news to the Joseph. May be the narrator took example of the old testament that the angel appears to the men and to the prophets only. He may have wanted to impose that idea in his text also. After hearing from angel Joseph is ready to go to another city. His love his family human is great even though it is difficult, he tries his best to save the child for the world. He knew if the king came to know that he is the one helping them to escape, he would kill him but still his love to Mary and the child Jesus and to the people made him to do that. We can see his obedience to the will of God.

The narrator portrayal of the character:

v Return from Egypt (ch 2: 19-23)

The text says that the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and he was asked to take the child and his mother, and go to the land Egypt. Here I see that the child’s name is not mentioned and his mother’s name is not mentioned. It also did not clearly tell about the relationship between Joseph, child and the mother. It is not clear whose child is this and who is the mother. The narrator could have clearly mentioned the relationship between Joseph and the Mother. Secondly he could have also mentioned why the revelation of angel is to Joseph, and not to the child’s mother.

The action and the speech of the character:

I see that there is a blind obedience to the divine will. Whatever the angel said Joseph followed it. Joseph does not have one hundred percent trust in divine providence. Because he was afraid to go to his hometown therefore he settles in Nazareth.

The reactions to the character and other character being mentioned:

The text gives information about the ruling king Archelaus. The information that we receive is that he was ruling Judea. Secondly we get to know that it was also easy for people to get in to Egypt and come back

The narrator portrayal of the character:

v The true kindred of Jesus:

Here the text says that his Mother has come to visit Jesus. The text did not mention the name of his mother here and the names of the Jesus’ brothers and sisters are not mentioned in this text. The text portrays his mother’s virtue of humility. She was so humble that she waits outside for her own son. Once again the text does not give enough information to make sure if they are really Jesus’ blood brothers and sisters. It may help the reader to know if Mary really had children after the birth of Jesus.

The action and the speech of the character:

When Jesus responds to his audience saying, “Here are my brothers and sisters and mothers.” It is an inclusive language to respect everyone as he respects his mother and sisters. Or it may be that Jesus did not respect the arrival of his mother and his sisters. The text can also be seen to suggest that Jesus did not want his audience to feel out of place at the arrival of his mother and his sisters. This act of Jesus may hurt her or may give her strength to accept it. She was very humble.

The reactions to the character and other character being mentioned:

The reaction of the audience would be positive and affirming because he calls his audience his mothers and sisters. I am also concerned about the feelings of Jesus’ mother and his sisters. I am sure that they must have been hurt by hearing that. If we say that his mother was pondering all those things in her heart, what happens to the feelings of his sisters? I see Jesus as a man who was in need to learn some communication skills. I mean to say that Jesus did not know a healthy way of communicating. I would also say that his mother failed to teach him. His mother also deserves this, because she fails to fulfill her responsibility to form his child. If she could have done her home work, in this context Jesus could have welcomed her and shown an appropriate respect for his mother.

The narrator portrayal of the character:

The Rejection of Jesus in Nazareth (ch 13: 55)

The narrator explains the human identity of Jesus. In the text Mary was mentioned as the Mother of Jesus. The names of Jesus’ brothers are mentioned in this text. But the author did not precisely mention parents of James, Joseph and Simon and Judas. Were they all sons of Mary? Or were they all cousins of Jesus. When we refer to the Hebrew text there is only one term for cousins, brothers and for the blood brothers. Therefore the confusion remains unsolved textually,

The action and the speech of the character:

The audiences of Jesus were all amazed of the wisdom of Jesus. Therefore they took offence. A person or a crowd will not take an offense for being “an Intelligent” or “a wise person.” I think that the author did not fully write the conversation that had taken place among the audience and Jesus. Therefore Jesus might have been misunderstood by the people at some stage and this lead the way for them to take offence at Jesus. Finally Jesus says that “Prophets are not without honor except in their own country and in their own house.” Did Jesus expect an honor from his own people? It contradicts Jesus’ words when he says “I have come to serve not to be served.”

The reactions to the character and other character being mentioned:

Jesus is giving a reactive statement; He fails to give a response to his people. He should have managed a balancing communication among the people. Jesus’ mother could have heard that her son had arrived to his home town. She may have also been there in the synagogue to listen to him. Jesus did not do many miraculous deeds in his village. The reason is that they did not believe in him. I would say that if he could have done something then they could have believed and they could have honored Mary also.

Conclusion:

In conclusion I would like to say some thing about the gospel of Matthew. All Gospels were written for a certain people of first century. Matthew wrote his Gospel for the Jewish people. Jewish culture was a male dominated society. Matthew said little about Mary. He has said more about Joseph.

I see Mary as mother of Jesus, and Matthew clearly explains that Mary is the wife of Joseph. In the genealogy Matthew describes Joseph as a husband of Mary. He connects Jesus to the family of David. Matthew mentions Mary as God’s servant for the messianic work. In the birth of Jesus, God used Mary for the birth of the child Jesus. Then in the next texts, the visit of wise men and escape into the Egypt, the return from Egypt, Matthew mentions the mother of Jesus. To conclude I say that the image Matthew gives Mary and a dutiful wife to Joseph and mother. Matthew gives Mary an image of “woman” of her time.