Thought for the Week

Scriptures to Read:

St. Luke 1:26-38

St. Luke 1:39-45

St. Luke 1:46-56

Isaiah 7:14 & 9:2-7

St. Matthew 1:18-25

Philippians 2:5-11

St. Luke 2:25-38

Our second couple is not yet married when we meet them. They are what we might call "engaged." The Israelite system differs from ours in a number of ways. We might call theirs an "arranged marriage." Many times the couple did not do the choosing of each other, parents did. As simply as I can: There is the engagement when first agreements are made. There is a betrothal when there is a formal feast, presentations of a dowry and formal agreements/oaths...