Begin Advent With Joy, Courtesy of Scott Hahn

Last updated on: December 3, 2014 at 1:22 pm by Kathy Schiffer

Begin Advent With Joy, Courtesy of Scott Hahn 2014-12-03T13:22:29-05:00 Kathy Schiffer

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Lowly shepherds. Skilled astronomers. An evil king. An unaccommodating innkeeper. A pregnant virgin. A nurturing foster-father. A host of heavenly beings. Some cows, and a baby.

* * * * *

This cast of seemingly unrelated characters is brought together in an unlikely pastiche that has become one of the most familiar stories of all time: the Christmas story. And it’s possible–even likely–that you simply accept this improbable story without challenging its veracity. But stop and think…. Then, pick up a copy of Scott Hahn’s new book, Joy to the World: How Christ’s Coming Changed Everything (and Still Does). Dr. Hahn, with his characteristic thoroughness and clarity, leads the reader through the story, explaining the biblical and historical context, and focuses on the most important part of the story: the Holy Family. “The details sometimes seem strange and impenetrable,” Dr. Hahn says,

“…until we consider them in relation to a home, a mother, a father, a bond, a household, a lineage, a heritage.”

That’s how he begins his book: With a shout-out to the lineage. “The New Testament begins,” Hahn tells us,

“…not with a discourse or a prophecy, not with theology or law, but with a simple declaration of family relationships.”

Dr. Hahn then explains that Matthew, in writing the Gospel, didn’t simply “settle” for including all the dry details about Jesus’ ancestors. No, he chose to begin with the most compelling, exciting, and relevant material he had at hand. For the Jews who were Matthew’s audience, each name in the genealogy would have suggested a dramatic episode in Israel’s history. Salvation arrives for mankind by way of the family–the Holy Family. Dr. Hahn writes,

“The household of Jesus, Mary and Joseph became a ‘home away from home’ for the eternal Son of God. It was an outpost of heaven, an image of the Trinity in the world.”

There’s more, of course. Dr. Hahn explains the role of the others in the drama of the Incarnation: the angels, with their heraldic ministry; the shepherds, smelling like their sheep; the pure mother Mary; the silent Joseph. The Magi, with their gifts rich in symbolism. Elizabeth and Zechariah, relatives of Mary; and Simeon, who prophesied in the Temple about Jesus’ sufferings. Why read this book? To better understand the feast, so that we can better celebrate the feast–enjoying it for all its infinite worth.

* * * * *

Dr. Scott Hahn

If you are a fan of Scott Hahn’s works, as I am–if he’s helped you to better understand the Mass, the Eucharist, Mary, the saints–you’ll want to take advantage of Dr. Hahn’s masterful research and understanding to learn more about Christmas. Plan to add Joy to the World to your library now, during this holy season of Advent.

And you can see what other writers have to say about Joy to the World. Check out Image Books’ Joy to the World Blog Tour here.

Previous Post

December 1, 2014

Sheep Behaving Sheepishly

Next Post

December 3, 2014 Lay Leadership? Restructuring of Dicasteries? Big Changes Anticipated for Roman Curia

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category #Synod14 Abortion Abstinence Abuse Addiction Adoption Advent Adventure Advertising Aging Agnosticism All Saints Day All Souls Day Amish Anathema Angels Anglican Animals Annulment Annunciation Apocalypse Apologetics Apostles Apostleship of the Sea Apparitions Archangels Archbishop Cordileone Archbishop Dolan Archbishop Vigneron Archeology Architecture Art Art Buchwald Ash Wednesday Assisted Suicide Astronauts Atheism Athletes Babies Baptism Beatification Beauty Bible Biochemistry Bioethics Birds Bishop Lori Bishops Blasphemy Books Canon Law Canonization Capital Punishment Cardinal Burke Cardinal Dolan Cardinal George Caritas Catechesis Catechism of the Catholic Church Catholic Catholic Education Catholic Higher Education Catholic Social Teaching Celibacy Cemeteries Character Charity Chastity Cheapskate Christian Unity Christmas Churches Civil Rights Cloning Comedy Communion of Saints Community Kitchens Confession Confirmation Conscience Consequences Consistory Constitution Contraception Conversion Cooking Councils of the Church Creativity Criminal Justice Cristero War Crucifixion Crystal Cathedral Culture Death Death and Dying Death Penalty Department of Health and Human Services Diaconate Dictatorship of Relativism Dignity Disability Discrimination Dissidence Divorce Doctors of the Church Early Church Fathers Easter Economics Ecumenism Education Encyclicals Environmentalism Episcopal Church Eucharist Euthanasia Evangelism Evangelists Evangelization Evolution Excuses Facebook Faith Families Family Fashion Fasting Fatherhood Federal Government Feminism Fiction Film First Amendment First Communion For Greater Glory Forgiveness Free Speech Friends Friendship Gender Discrimination Germany Gnosticism Good Friday Government Grace Greed Gregorian Calendar Happiness Health Heaven Heresy History Holidays Holiness Hollywood Holy Land Holy Saturday Holy Spirit Holy Week Holy Year Home Sweet Home Homosexuality Hope Humanism Humility Humor Imagination Immaculate Conception Immigration Impulsivity In Vitro Fertilization Incarnation Indulgences Infallibility Internet Islam Italy Jerusalem Jesus Judaism Justice Kathleen Sebelius Labor Movement LCWR Lent Life Literature Liturgy Lourdes Love Magi Marketing Marriage Martyrdom Martyrs Mary Mass Media Medical Ethics Mexico Michigan Miracles Missionaries Modernism Modesty Monks Monothelitism Motherhood Movies Mushrooms Music Muslim Mystery Mysticism Mythology Nativity Natural Law Nature New Evangelization New Media New Year New Year's Resolutions Nostalgia Obscenity Occult Old Testament Origen Orthodox Orvieto Pallium Papacy Parenting Patience Patriarch Bartholomew Patriotism Peace Peace and Justice Penitence Pentecost People Persecution Philosophy Poetry Political activism Political Correctness Politics Polls Pop Culture Pope Benedict XVI Pope Francis Pope John Paul II Pope John XXIII Pope Paul VI Pope St. Pius X Pope Urban VII Population Prayer Preaching Prejudice Pride Priesthood Pro-Life Protestantism Psychology Purgatory Queenship of Mary Racism Rape Real Presence Reconciliation Reformation Relics Religious Religious Liberty Reliquary Renewal Reproductive Technology Resurrection Rights Romance Rome Royalty Sacraments Sacred Heart Saints Satanism Science Science Fiction Scripture Seal of Confession Secularism Seniors September 11 Seventy Times Seven Sexuality Sharks Sin Smoking Social Communications Social Justice Social Networking Social Sciences Space Exploration Spirituality Sports St. Luke St. Patrick's Day St. Paul St. Peter St. Teresa of Avila Stations of the Cross Steve Jobs Superstition Supreme Court Symbolism Synod Technology Teen Rebellion Television Terrorism Thankfulness Thanksgiving Theology Think This, Not That Tobit Toilets Toys Tradition Traditions Transplants Travel Trinity Twitter U.S. Air Force Uncategorized United Nations USCCB Valentine Vatican Vatican Archives Vatican Blogfest Virtue Vocations Where We Pray White Heart Women World Day of Social Communications World Meeting of Families World News World Youth Day Worship Writing Year of Consecrated Life Year of Faith Year of Mercy Youth

Select a Month December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I lift my eyes to the _________, where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD.

Select your answer to see how you score.

Sky Heavens Seas Hills