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Luke 2a: HG Bishop Youssef

Outline of the Chapter

  • 1-7: Birth of Christ
  • 8-20: Praise of the Angels and Visit of the Shepherds
  • 21: Circumcision of Christ
  • 22-24: Presentation in the Temple
  • 25-38: Simeon and Anna
  • 39-40: Holy Family Returns to Nazareth
  • 41-50: Boy Jesus Amazes Scholars
  • 51-52: Jesus Advances in Wisdom and Favor

Birth of Christ

1And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

  • St Luke begins the story of the birth of Christ with "in those days" - which days?
    • The days mentioned in the previous chapter... around the time of the Annunciation of John and Annunciation of Christ and the birth of St John
    • St Luke's Gospel uses "in those days" a lot
  • Luke sets the historical time for the birth of Christ
    • During the reign of Caesar Augustus as Roman Emperor (31 BC - 14 AD)
    • During the time of Quirinius as governor of Syria
  • Census of Quirinius
    • The rules of a census are that each person goes back to the land of their family/tribe and where they were born. The census was used by to appropriately tax each everyone in the empire
    • The journey from Nazareth in Galilee (north) to Bethlehem in Judea (south) is approximately 80 miles
    • Nothing happens haphazardly but all by the economy of God in order to fulfill the prophecy of Micah:
      • "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting." (Micah 5:2)
    • Joseph's going to Bethlehem publicly declared that both him and Mary, his wife, are from the tribe of Judah and the lineage of King David
  • Mary, his betrothed wife
    • Jewish tradition had three steps in a marriage:
      • Proposal/Engagement
      • Betrothal
        • Civil marriage. The legal aspects - he provides for her and she provides for him
      • Marriage
        • Consummation of the relationship
    • St Mary and St Joseph's marriage was not consummated, but St Mary was perpetually in her virginity
  • Obedience of Authority
    • St Joseph and St Mary teach us to obey the authority in their obedience of the census rules
    • "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God." (Romans 13:1-2)
    • We ought to obey the authority of the law and government unless it contradicts God
      • "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29)
  • Firstborn
    • Title of rank and birth order of first male child, whether there are other children or not
    • Firstborn was to be dedicated to the Lord (Exodus 13, Numbers 3)
    • St Mary's Virginity remained sealed
      • “This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter by it, because the Lord God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut." (Ezekiel 44:2)
      • St Augustine describes it as Light passing through Glass
  • Swaddling & Manger
    • When a child was born they were washed and then swaddled - in this, Christ was treated like any ordinary Hebrew child
    • However, he was placed in a manger
      • Manger is a feeding trough for animals. It was filled with hay. So St Mary placed Him in there so He would be warm.
      • There is a beautiful meaning here which is that He is the Bread of Life, and He was placed in a feeding trough when He was born
      • We see their poverty in that they were not regarded by anyone and could not even find a place to sleep

Praise of the Angels and Visit of the Shepherds

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And [c]behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made [f]widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

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Circumcision of Christ

21 And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

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Presentation of Christ in the Temple

22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

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