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Msgr. Esseff begins by answering a question about “consolation” and “desolation”. Seek balance. The mature Christian doesn’t have a too high an experience, nor too low. Do you seek the God of consolations or consolations from God? Virtue is union with God, not whether you have consolations or desolation.
The center of our Advent preparation is the home. Msgr. Esseff speaks in a particular way about marriage. He talks about the trouble marriages fall into when one of the spouses refuses to share in the spiritual relationship the other spouse enjoys. Can anything be done when there is this the lack of “spiritual” communion between the couple?
He shares with us when is present in a union and presents an example of when it is not.
Gospel Mt 1:18-25
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.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill
what the Lord had said through the prophet:Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
He had no relations with her until she bore a son,
and he named him Jesus.
