關於聖誕節：如果我是若瑟，我一定要昏倒（If I were Joseph, I'd totally pass out......）
耶穌誕生，事情可一點也不簡單。看看新約聖經中，幾段關於耶穌誕生的記載，我們就可以知道了。感謝教父依肋內（Irenaeus of Lyon, +202），讓我們現在只有四本福音書，不然，可能耶穌聖誕的文字記載，可能不只這些版本。
《瑪竇福音》從耶穌的祖先開始講起，花了整整17節的「濃縮版本」耶穌祖譜，其中有四個女人的名字，耶穌的母親瑪利亞是最後一位。話鋒一轉，《瑪竇》說道瑪利亞與若瑟的尷尬婚姻生活，但因天使介入，若瑟才決意照顧瑪利亞與母胎中耶穌寶寶。耶穌誕生在「黑落德為王時」的「白冷城」，並有「若干」賢士前來朝拜耶穌君王，但也更導致黑落德屠殺境內所有嬰孩。天使再度介入，請若瑟帶瑪利亞母子到埃及避難，之後再將他們從埃及領回。《瑪竇》在耶穌誕生的文字中，用了四次「應驗了先知們所說的話」句型結構，強調：耶穌實現了舊約中先知們的預言。
《路加福音》的作者說明耶穌誕生的過程，不從祖譜開始，而是從洗者若翰的父母開始講起。匝加利亞是司祭，他的太太依撒伯爾是瑪利亞的表姊（耶穌的阿姨），兩人膝下無子，但因天主的介入，老阿姨依撒伯爾懷孕了，表大爺罹患「暫時失語症」。接著說明瑪利亞被天主聖寵充滿，天主要救世人，她勇敢地全身投入天主的計畫。瑪利亞懷著身孕照顧她高齡孕婦表姊，兩人見面，瑪利亞唱了千古傳誦的「讚主曲（Magnificat）」。後來，若翰終於誕生，匝加利亞舌結開了，唱出「匝加利亞之歌（the Canticle of Zechariah）」。至此，耶穌誕生細節終於出現：時代（奧古斯督任皇帝時）、地點（白冷城）、產房（馬房）、異象（天軍歡唱）、朝拜的人（荒野的牧羊人，不是東方賢士朝聖團）。
聖經裡面關於耶穌誕生的描述，就是這樣了！《馬爾谷》與《若望》完全沒有關於耶穌誕生的敘述，《馬爾谷》中耶穌出現時已是成人了，而《若望》作者不僅未提耶穌誕生，更以神學語彙講「太初」、「聖言」、「生命」、「光」，以及若翰的見證，耶穌便出現了。
耶穌的聖誕，看來，要不是太重要，不然就是太奇妙，使得福音書的作者們要不是成篇累牘鋪陳，要不就是完全不提。因為「降生奧跡」實在讓人無法理解：天主怎麼取了肉軀，來到罪惡的世界中，與罪人在一起呢？坐在尊威寶座上的宇宙主宰，竟屈尊就卑降凡塵？《聖詠》作者問的好：「世人算什麼？祢竟對他念念不忘？凡人算什麼？祢竟對他眷顧周詳？」（詠八：5）
《路加》與《瑪竇》的記載在此有個伏筆：「白冷城」的意思是「糧食之城」（Bethlehem，House of Bread），小耶穌被放在「馬槽」中。是的，這位尊威的天主子耶穌，的確就是要來做「世人的食糧」，取代了「瑪納」，讓人可以在曠野行走，前往「預許福地」時，不至餓死。
耶穌名號原意是「雅威救援 Yahweh Saves」。雅威──天主──是創造者，更是一切仁慈與美善與生命的根源。祂眼見受造子女因罪無法自拔，與「生命」隔離而死亡，祂如同天下所有的父母一樣心痛流淚，因此決意親自救援。這是耶穌聖誕的意義，是我們歡慶聖誕的原因。表大爺（匝加利亞）說的對，他直接點出了基督徒慶祝聖誕節的理由：「天主記憶起自己的神聖盟約，恩賜我們從敵人手中被救出」。
耶穌的聖誕，是天主救援的降臨，是人類渴望的喜悅；馬槽中那完全脆弱無助、需要人疼愛的微小嬰孩，竟是天主自己！耶穌，是天主「不可見的恩寵，最清楚、最具體的記號」，祂是最首要的聖事。
我如果是在馬槽邊上的若瑟，我想，我一定會昏倒～
Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring（耶穌是人類渴望的喜悅）
來源：https://youtu.be/lhhhWlNyRuA?si=vYEroKwFcHnGIRJ8
The Birth of Jesus: No Simple Matter
Thanks to Church Father Irenaeus of Lyon (+202), we now have only four Gospels. Otherwise, we might have had many more versions of the Christmas story.
Matthew's Gospel begins with Jesus's genealogy - a condensed 17-verse family tree including four women, with Mary being the last. Then it pivots to the awkward marriage situation between Mary and Joseph, resolved only through angelic intervention. Jesus was born in Bethlehem during King Herod's reign, with "certain" wise men coming to worship the newborn king - leading to Herod's massacre of all infants. Angels intervene again, directing Joseph to flee to Egypt with mother and child, later guiding their return. Matthew uses the phrase "to fulfill what the prophets had spoken" four times, emphasizing Jesus's fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.
Luke's Gospel approaches Jesus's birth differently, beginning not with genealogy but with John the Baptist's parents. Zechariah, a priest, and Elizabeth (Mary's cousin and Jesus's aunt) were childless until divine intervention led to elderly Elizabeth's pregnancy and Zechariah's temporary muteness. Then comes Mary's story - full of grace, bravely accepting God's plan for humanity's salvation. While visiting her pregnant elderly cousin, Mary sings the timeless Magnificat. After John's birth, Zechariah regains speech and sings the Canticle of Zechariah. Finally, Jesus's birth details emerge: the era (Emperor Augustus's reign), location (Bethlehem), birthplace (a stable), celestial signs (angels singing), and worshippers (shepherds, not Eastern wise men).
That's it for biblical accounts of Jesus's birth! Mark and John omit it entirely - Mark introduces an adult Jesus, while John speaks in theological terms of "the beginning," "the Word," "life," "light," and John's testimony before Jesus appears.
Jesus's nativity seems either too important or too mysterious for consistent treatment by the Gospel writers - they either elaborate extensively or remain silent. The "mystery of the incarnation" defies understanding: How could God take human form and dwell among sinners? How could the Universe's sovereign ruler humble himself so? As the Psalmist asks: "What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?" (Psalm 8:4)
Luke and Mark plant a subtle hint: "Bethlehem" means "House of Bread," and baby Jesus was laid in a manger. Indeed, this majestic Son of God came to be "bread for the world," replacing manna to sustain people journeying through the wilderness toward the Promised Land.
"Jesus" means "Yahweh Saves." Yahweh - God - the Creator and source of all mercy, goodness, and life, saw His created children trapped in sin, separated from "life" and dying. Like all parents, He wept in pain and decided to personally intervene. This is the meaning of Christmas, our reason for celebration. As Uncle Zechariah correctly noted, pointing out why Christians celebrate Christmas: "God remembered his holy covenant, granting us rescue from our enemies."
Jesus's birth is God's arrival to save us, humanity's longed-for joy. That completely vulnerable, helpless infant in the manger, needing human love, was God Himself! Jesus is "the clearest, most concrete sign of God's invisible grace," the primary sacrament.
If I were Joseph standing by that manger... man, I'd totally pass out!
