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Now this is how the birth of
Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to
Joseph, but
before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy
Spirit. Joseph, her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet
unwilling
to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was
his
intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a
dream and
said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your
wife into your
home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been
conceived
in her.”
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| Gospelthink: Considering my birth into this world, Joseph had to make some adjustments to his thinking. Do I follow what the Lord wants of me? | ||||
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"Havana" is the story of a young man who
took his girlfriend from Havana and they went to East Atlanta, but she
did not
like it at all. In fact, she wants to go
back. “Half of my heart is in
Havana,”
she sings, “he took me back to East Atlanta, but my heart is in
Havana.” They
had a good time together, but in her mind it is over, and she
wants
to go back to her home.
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In the Gospel, Joseph
finally had to talk to Mary about what was happening. It took an angel
of the Lord to get it to happen, but he did it, and decided that he had
to compromise. He and Mary really did not understand was happening in
their relationship. In fact, their love relationship just may be among
the most unique love relationships of all time. But it had to be the
same as any relationship. In order to accomplish what they did, they
had to work things out in compromise.
Compromise is a must for any relationship to work. In the song, "Havana," the man and woman have a great beginning--they feel the love, they see what they would like to happen. And in the process, he makes the decision that they should live where he lives, namely East Atlanta. Did he talk to her about her feelings? We do not know from the song, but one might guess that he did not discuss it in a serious way because she is not happy. She really does not want to live away from Havana her home. Since they did not reach that compromise, it would seem that their life really could not be happy. The important thought in the song is not so much which place the couple should end up dwelling in, but the amount of time they spend on the reason why they should live in that particular place. If the two people are to be a couple in the future, one thing is for sure: both have to agree on where they are to live. Obviously, then some compromise must be reached. One of the big drawbacks to a beginning marriage is the situation when one of the couple will just guess what the other wants and not work out some compromise. Later it may be a real problem. The solution, of course, is to discuss what must be done early on. Joseph and Mary were finally able to do it, and their marriage survived. It is a lesson for every relationship. |
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| PRAYER Good and
gracious God, we study how Your Son
came into our world. You used the sacrament of marriage and family life
as the foundation, showing the importance of compromise for Joseph and
Mary in their married life. May we learn the lesson of compromise in
our relationships.
Be with us, we pray.
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+++++
GUIDE
FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT
Theme: As a couple determines their future together, they must work at compromise. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. Judging from the Gospel reading, give your judgment about Joseph's character. 2. In your opinion, in marriage does the place where you live matter as much as it seems to in the song? Yes or no and why? 3. What is your definition of "compromise"? 4. Besides compromise, what else is absolutely necessary for a permanent commitment? 5. In your opinion, do most relationships spend enough time discussing how they feel about their lives? Yes or no and why? 6. What are some causes of marriage breakdown? 7. What does the song "Havana" teach young people? |
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©2007
Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America |
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