Third Joyful Mystery: The Birth of Our Lord
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrolment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
– Luke 2:1-7
Thought for the day
Mary and Joseph had to travel from their home and try to find a place to stay in a different town where they had no connections to help them.
There are many people in our world today, who, through no fault of their own, must leave their homes and try to find a safe place for themselves and their families. Others must return to the place they ‘belong’, but find no safe harbour there.
In India, Chennai’s leaders decided to build luxury flats, forcing over 100,000 residents to be moved to Kannagi Nagar. This huge ‘slum’ resettlement on the city’s outskirts has poor access to utilities, education, and transport, and is plagued with crime. Families cram into tiny, single rooms, with no running water or safe sanitation.
Most children growing up here have little hope for the future. For many, life is harder still. Some families have so little that they have no other option but to live on the pavements beside the busy roads. Sister Nirmala, a trained social worker and the Marialaya project coordinator, explains:
‘There are whole families sleeping on the street… they sleep on the road.’
With Missio’s help, Marialaya runs a school for children living on the streets which stays open until 7:30pm. It provides a safe space to play and learn, build confidence, and come to understand that they are loved – by us and by God.
Pray with Missio
Today we pray the Third Joyful Mystery: the Birth of Our Lord.
- Our Father,
- 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery),
- Glory be to the Father.