The birth of Jesus took place during a period of history known as the Pax Romana (Latin for "Roman Peace") It was a long period of relative peace and stability experienced by the Roman Empire between the accession of Caesar Augustus, founder of the Roman principate, and the death of Marcus Aurelius, last of the "good emperors". During this period of approximately 206 years (27 BC to AD 180), the Roman empire achieved its greatest territorial extent and its population reached a maximum of up to 70 million people – a third of the world’s population.
Keeping track of
population numbers was a preoccupation of the Romans at this time, as we see in
today’s gospel. So, it is with Joseph and Mary, they must participate in the
census the Romans are now conducting. The Son of the God, creator of this vast universe,
is now confined to this obscure planet earth, and who’s life is now under the influence
of a mere human dictator. The idea that the Lord and creator of all these vast
worlds could now be dwelling in the human body of a baby boy is a challenge
quite beyond any mind to fully grasp.
To get us
started, God employs his heavenly messengers. They announce it – to Joseph, to
Mary, to Zachariah & Elizabeth, to lowly hillside shepherds, and finally to
the Magi, representing all the nations. But the plan to reveal this mystery of God-made-man to
future generations will go beyond the messenger-voices
of angels.
A voice in the
desert begins to cry out, “… prepare, the Lord is coming.” Then the Lord’s own
voice, “I am He, come from the Father – believe?” From here the messenger-voices began to grow in
numbers, down through the ages.
And the messenger-voices
continue today. They are many and diverse, telling this same mystery of God-made-man, still with us in our world
today. A mystery is a reality that can be known but not fully known, able to be
seen but only partially, able to be encountered yet leaving us in wonder and
awe, desiring to see more. This is faith. Speaking of the people of his own
time, St. Paul remarks, “For the Jews
require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom.” 1 Cor. 1:22
In our time it is "scientism" that makes the demand: “. . . show
us the scientific proof of what your religion calms to be true if it is to be
believed”. So who are the messenger-voices
that God is sending into our world today. It is us, we who believe, we are
the messenger-voices now who must continue to announce the
Message to our world. And we do so not simply with words, but with lives lived
for all to see. Our lives of holiness, manifesting spiritual and corporal works
of mercy are the action-voices that will
convict and convince the mind of scientism.
Are you ready to
be a messenger-voice in this age? Let
us go forth now, the world is waiting to hear truth which is the Good News.
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