The fall of Constantinople in 1453 signaled the end of an era. The last vestiges of the powerful Holy Roman Empire finally succumbed to the onslaughts of the Ottoman Empire. In its heyday, the Holy Roman Empire which existed for more than 1,500 years rules over most of Europe. And mighty was its fall. And yet, its fall also augured the dawn of a new and glorious beginning. With the fall of the great city, the philosophers, mathematicians, artists, intellectuals and the cream of Byzantine society fled the city. Most of them moved to Italy and there started the unfolding of the Renaissance.
A man finds out his betrothed to be with child and the child is not even his. Any self-respecting man would have wanted to call off the wedding and put aside the betrothal. A truly upright man would do all of this quietly. And yet, Joseph heeding the words of the angel who visited him in his sleep took her anyway as his wife and the greatest story ever was allowed to unfold.
Many times, things have not worked out the way I would have wanted them to. But trusting in the presence of God in my life, everything has worked out in ways I could not have imagined possible. My life has been a great present due to His abiding Presence. I prayed for a beautiful and a loving partner in life. He gave me an angel for a wife. I wished for two wonderful sons. He gave me three off-springs who have kept wondering all these years how I have come to deserve such blessings. I prayed for sufficiency of material possessions and resources. He filled my cup with blessings, up to the brim, shaken and overflowing.
God writes straight with crooked lines. He is able to draw water from a rock. From dust, He fashioned man. But not before He has prepared a fitting dwelling place for him.
“Your promises, Oh LORD, I will sing forever. Through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.”
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.”
When Joseph awoke,he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24