CHILDLESS / LATE BORN
Widespread belief of the Biblical times was that childlessness was a punishment from God. So, the society could assume that childless parents, though appeared to be pious, were not justifiable before God. However, some prominent persons in the Salvation History were born late to their parents when childbirth was impossible by the laws of nature.
The late-born children had been special to God. Sarah’s son Isaac (Gen 11:30; 21:1-2), Rebekah’s son Jacob (Gen 25:21), Rachel’s son Joseph (Gen 29:31; 30:22), Samson whose mother’s name is unknown (Judg 13:1-3), Hannah’s son Samuel (1 Sam 1:5-6, 20) are examples of late-born sons who had special roles in the salvation history.
According to the Proto-evangelium of St. James, Mary, the mother of Jesus, was also born late to her parents Joachim and Anne. The late birth, when there was no hope, as per natural law, showed the divine intervention in the b
CHILDLESS / LATE BORN
Widespread belief of the Biblical times was that childlessness was a punishment from God. So, the society could assume that childless parents, though appeared to be pious, were not justifiable before God. However, some prominent persons in the Salvation History were born late to their parents when childbirth was impossible by the laws of nature.
The late-born children had been special to God. Sarah’s son Isaac (Gen 11:30; 21:1-2), Rebekah’s son Jacob (Gen 25:21), Rachel’s son Joseph (Gen 29:31; 30:22), Samson whose mother’s name is unknown (Judg 13:1-3), Hannah’s son Samuel (1 Sam 1:5-6, 20) are examples of late-born sons who had special roles in the salvation history.
According to the Proto-evangelium of St. James, Mary, the mother of Jesus, was also born late to her parents Joachim and Anne. The late birth, when there was no hope, as per natural law, showed the divine intervention in the birth of these chosen leaders.
REFLECTION
God might test the faith of people before He selects them for His divine purpose. We shall not be disappointed with the mishaps in our lives and consider them as punishments from God. Reward and punishment happen when our chance for conversion is over by death. Let us be non-judgmental on others.
irth of these chosen leaders.
REFLECTION
God might test the faith of people before He selects them for His divine purpose. We shall not be disappointed with the mishaps in our lives and consider them as punishments from God. Reward and punishment happen when our chance for conversion is over by death. Let us be non-judgmental on others.