A Beautiful Partnership

I wrote this blog on September 8. 2011, the birthday of the the woman named Mary...called on a mission to be the mother of Jesus. Early morning on the said day, someone said "Today is the Blessed Mother's birthday..." and I answered "yup we talked :-)"...Another one just laughed with a comment "...feeling close".

Let me recount how I joined the birthday celebration of this beautiful woman and mother of Jesus (my mother too). I watched the film entitled "the Nativity" at Youtube. I just wanted something to devour while searching the best ways to celebrate this special day. But then I thought I would only highlight her. I could not take away my heart from the character of Joseph that was portrayed so well in the film. In fact his beautiful character moved me to tears several times.

I would like to highlight the following significant events :

1. Mary was bethrothed by her father to Joseph
2. She accepted such arrangement with a heavy heart (did not love Joseph at first)
3. She conceived through the Holy Spirit
4. She traveled to Elizabeth and Zachariah's place after the engagement which was more like an escape from the reality of such arrangement
5. She was shocked to know that Elizabeth proclaimed and affirmed her pregnancy of the Savior of the world
6. While she was with Elizabeth, Joseph was restless with Mary's long vacation and was shocked seeing Mary pregnant when she came back to their village
7. Joseph decided to secretly break up the engagement with Mary
8. Joseph was "siezed" by an angel in his dream not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife as she conceived the Son of God
9. Joseph took Mary to be His wife despite the possible shame that they would face together
10. Three magi, considered the Wise Men that time saw the coming of the Savior (though one of them doubted at first)
11. The wise men were invited by Herod to join him in his palace and told them to come back if they found the messiah so that he could go and worship him, too
12. Slowly Mary saw an honorable man in Joseph as she proclaimed in her statement " my child is blessed to have a responsible man for a father"
13. Joseph despite his obedience to God to take Mary as his wife whispered to Him in prayer "Please show me a sign that I am doing the right thing" (this he uttered on his way to Bethlehem where they would pay homage as an ancestors of David).
14. Joseph's greatest sign was when Mary gave birth to the baby Jesus. His face depicts the overwhelmed image of a man combining both awe and laughter as the heavens had shone forth its brightest star like that of a spotlight to where they are
15. The shepherds payed a visit followed by the 3 magi offering the child gold, frankincense and myrrh
16. Herod ordered to kill the babies in the land in fear that someone may take over his throne someday.

What had hit me the most in the film were the following :

1. Mary's submission to her parents despite her resistance to accept Joseph as her future husband
2. Joseph was so confident with himself
- he had stable income in carpentry so he was so certain of himself being able to support Mary financially and the baby
- sure of his l0ve for Mary
- really pursued Mary despite her obvious resistance
- patient to wait for her coming back

4. Mary and Joseph's obedience to the angel...without question or whatever rationalization
5. Joseph and Mary's persistence during the travel to reach Bethlehem their destination

These two individuals went through so much allowing themselves to say YES in the most important mission of bringing the child Jesus to this world. I saw in the film the great partnership and friendship of Joseph and Mary. They have their moments together conversing and sharing their fears yet, they did not give up or stop. They stood firm believing that they are obeying the voice of God Himself whose Son she is carrying in her womb.

Everything in the film was centered on faith, hope and Love. Faith in God's word. Hope for the salvation of the world. And the ultimate Love of God sending His Son to redeem the world. Everyone that supported Jesus' birth had hoped for Him to come. And in whatever aspect, my hope that this blog may send the MESSAGE...God is here in the world and was brought by two obedient individuals especially chosen for the mission to be His parents to create such a beautiful and life-giving partnership.