Catholic Thought discussion

Summary

Chapter 8: “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
Hahn outlines the significance of Jesus being born in Bethlehem.

Chapter 9: “Do You Believe in Magic”
The Magi, who were gentiles, followed the star to find truth and give gifts to the new born king of Israel.

Chapter 10: “Shepherds, Why this Jubilee?”
Hahn connects the historical role of a humble shepherd to the shepherds who will be among the first informed of Jesus’ birth to the child who will eventually become the Good Shepherd.

Chapter 11: “The Glory of Your People: The Presentation”
Hahn provides the context to the three post birth Jewish rituals: the circumcision, the child’s presentation, and the mother’s purification.

To enhance your reading of these chapters, you might want to read this article, "The archaeological and historical evidence behind the birth of Christ."
https://aleteia.org/2018/12/21/the-ar...

It refutes many of the common criticisms of the nativity story.

Thank you, Manny. This was very informative.

There was so much that struck me in these chapters. I love that Hahn tells us to "linger" on Matthew 2:10, for when the Magi "rejoiced exceedingly with great joy" that this "captures the moment when God gave Joy to the whole world"! No longer was salvation available for just a chosen few, it is now there for all of us!
I also liked the explanations regarding the gifts given by the Magi. I especially liked the explanations by St. Ephrem of Syria, that since these were all things that had been created by God, but had been profaned by their service to idols in the lands of the Magi, they needed to be purified by contact with the Holy One of Israel.
This reminds of when I make a gift of myself, of my soul to God. First, I must be purified by the Holy One in the Sacrament of Confession, for my gift to be pleasing to Him and for me to receive the benefits of this transaction in my soul. If, I approach the altar to receive His Holy and Precious Body, knowing that I have mortal sin on my soul, it is a desecration of his sacred gift. But what true joy we are able to receive when we take the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ into our bodies and souls when we know that we have truly prepared for his reception,

The shepherds were a different matter. Even though they were not seen as important to the religious and political leaders of the time, they were important to God. Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and David were all shepherds, so it is to the lowly shepherds that the angels appeared, truly showing us that salvation is not reserved for the rich and the powerful, but is there for those who listen to the good news, act on it, and share it with others. The shepherds challenge us to evangelize today bringing God's Joy to the world!

I think the thing that struck me most about reading about the purification, is that I always misunderstood it. I had always thought that the mother was considered impure because of the "dirtiness" of childbirth", which I always thought was rather degrading to women and in no way could be used to represent the birth of our Savior. To instead, read of it as a purification following the holy use of her sacred body is beautiful. We purify the sacred vessels after they have held the Body and Blood of Our Lord in the Eucharist, and since Mary contained the Eucharistic Body in her womb, it makes sense for her to be purified.

Lisa wrote: "There was so much that struck me in these chapters. I love that Hahn tells us to "linger" on Matthew 2:10, for when the Magi "rejoiced exceedingly with great joy" that this "captures the moment whe..."

Chapter 9 struck me too, as I had always seen the Magi and their visit in a positive light, as the wise men who were given a sign (the star--which may have been an angelic prompting) and had faith enough in a truer god than the one they served and traveled far to pay tribute to this new and special King. It was jarring to hear them and their profession as "revolting." And I didn't know about the animosity between them and the Jews, but there was this "attraction/repulsion" thing between the Magi and Jews: "...if they had never been tempted to know the God of Israel, why were they watching the sky for signs of a divine "King of the Jews"?

And then the idea that they carried a dual message: for themselves a message of hope: they knew the prophecies that this King would be powerful enough to destroy Israel's enemies, but there would be a star to guide them to this powerful Lord of the world, who would bring joy rather than doom. And for Israel and for His worshippers through all the ages to come: "He comes to rule the earth" (Psalm 96). Jesus during his life ministered to all who were ready to believe in Him, Jew or Samaritan or gentile. Despite this example, even Peter, holding the keys of the kingdom after Jesus had ascended and evangelism begun, had to be shown a rather bizarre vision involving a variety of animals that Israelites considered "unclean," that their good news and baptism was meant for not just Jews, but for the whole world. (Acts Ch. 10)

I also found the explanation of what the three gifts signify very interesting, and new information to meditate on. Oddly enough, I had just finished reading about Ephren the Syrian in Bennett's book about the early Christians, "Tried by Fire."

Lisa and Madeline, all good comments. It's amazing how many new insights I got from this book. One thinks they know everything about Christmas, and yet there were so many things I did not know or ever contemplated.

Chapter 11 was probably the most difficult for me. It probably requires a deeper understanding of the Jewish rituals.

Circumcision is easy enough to understand but Hahn takes it further than I ever thought.

Israel’s covenant with God was “the covenant of circumcision” (Acts 7:8); and, though Jesus, as God, was not bound by the law, only he could fulfill the law perfectly, precisely because he was God and therefore sinless. And so he did, as his parents took him to be circumcised, perhaps at the synagogue in Bethlehem.

Christians have always seen this moment as an anticipation of Jesus’s crucifixion. It was the first shedding of his blood, whose value was infinite. Because of Jesus’s perfection, this rite by itself possessed power enough to redeem the world; yet he pressed on to a more perfect fulfillment and more complete self-giving. To his own law he would be obedient—“obedient unto death” (Philippians 2:8). (p, 128)

First I had never heard that Jesus’s circumcision was a prefiguring of His crucifixion, but I can see that. But Hahn says that “because of Jesus’s perfection, this rite by itself possessed power enough to redeem the world.” You mean that Christ did not have to be crucified? I can see the circumcision as a foreshadow, an echo, or, as Hahn initially says, an anticipation of His ritual death, but in lieu of it? That seems like a step too far.

I have to admit, I really don’t understand that distinction Hahn makes concerning Jesus’s Presentation at the Temple.

Luke’s narrative is quite odd. He describes Jesus not as being “redeemed,” but rather as being “dedicated” or “presented” in the Temple. It’s an important distinction. The law did not require that all first born males be redeemed. (p.129)

Hahn goes on to explain.

If Jesus…was dedicated to God and not redeemed, he belongs to God permanently…Thus, Luke presents Jesus as a uniquely righteous first-born, who—unlike other Israelite males—did not need to be redeemed from service to the Lord, since he was not unclean. Instead, he was consecrated as a firstborn (Exodus 13:1-2). (p. 130-131)

So the distinction lies between redeemed versus consecrated. If someone could explain that distinction further I might get it.

Another interesting tidbit from chapter 11 is that Hahn tells us that Luke is one of the possible authors for the Epistle to the Hebrews. I had not heard that. I just finished reading the Epistle to the Hebrews as a continuous read and that does make sense. The writing styles are similar.

Chapter 8
Bethlehem means 'House of Bread". How fitting that the Bread of Life was born in this town.

I also learned from this chapter that doubters refute the Christmas story: no documents to prove a tax census, etc.
But the early Christians AFFIRM this place of birth:
Quote: We have already noted that by the middle of the first century many Christians were making pilgrimages to the site of Jesus’s birth.