This painting, Joseph and Mary on the Road to Bethlehem (1475), is the work of the Flemish artist Hugo van der Goes. We see Joseph and pregnant Mary "coming around the mountain." How careful Joseph is of Mary who has gotten down off the donkey. Perhaps she is taking a stretch or fears the donkey might stumble on the sloping road. How tenderly Joseph takes her by the arm as he seems to be saying, "Just a few more steps, a little bit more. Are you doing alright?" The donkey follows, and look, the ox is coming around the bend too - setting the stage for the Christmas Nativity scene we know so well.
Notice that these little figures are placed within a much larger scenary: the imposing setting of rock and sky, plant life, light and shadow. All of creation seems to know! We might feel that we are down the road a bit, looking upwards, eager to lend a hand.
I am thinking of how patient all the figures are: Mary, expectant through her pregnancy, Joseph, faithful through the confusion and fatigue of the long trip. The burden-carrying donkey plods along, seemingly calm and sure in its service. The mountain is solid and grounded.
Entering this scene, we might pray-in the New Year from a place of felt need, asking the Holy Couple for the gift of patience in its many forms.
Entering this scene, we might pray-in the New Year from a place of felt need, asking the Holy Couple for the gift of patience in its many forms.
from
mumbling,
grumbling,
tysking and
sighing,
eye-rolling,
complaining,
moaning and
groaning.
Save me, Holy Joseph,
from
irritability,
curses,
procrastination and
blatant refusals,
negative tone,
attitude,
victimhood and
whining.
Save me, Holy Couple,
from
resentments
my short fuse,
objections and
reluctance,
unwillingness,
false smiles and
a begrudging spirit.
Give me instead
new graciousness,
willingness,
no more parceling out of love.
Keep me from counting the cost,
that I might smile more,
laugh more
and swell with gratitude.
And may I realize all of this
especially with my family,
the ones nearest and dearest.
We're harder on them, you know,
than on the ones we've never met.
Bless the New Year,
as we journey to our own inner Bethlehem,
where Jesus is to be born, and born,
and born again.
Amen.
Father Stephen P. Morris
the ones nearest and dearest.
We're harder on them, you know,
than on the ones we've never met.
Bless the New Year,
as we journey to our own inner Bethlehem,
where Jesus is to be born, and born,
and born again.
Amen.
Father Stephen P. Morris
