Mt 1:18-25
This is how Jesus Christ was born. Mary his mother had been given to Joseph in marriage but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.
Then Joseph, her husband, made plans to divorce her in all secrecy. He was an upright man, and in no way did he want to disgrace her.
While he was pondering over this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She has conceived by the Holy Spirit, and now she will bear a son. You shall call him ‘Jesus’ for he will save his people from their sins.”
All this happened in order to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and he will be called Emmanuel which means: God-with-us. When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do and he took his wife to his home. She gave birth to a son and he had not had marital relations with her. Joseph gave him the name of Jesus.
REFLECTION
We read today the announcement to Joseph. In the Scripture Joseph appears as a “silent saint”: he hears the messages from God and obeys. But his mission was crucial during the birth and childhood of Jesus. Remember: Nazareth, Bethlehem, Egypt, and Nazareth again, Jerusalem at Easter, and Nazareth until his death, before the public life of Jesus. The Christian community slowly discovered the mission of Joseph. John Paul II dedicated to him the letter Redemptoris custos (the protector of the Redeemer).
What is the lesson of the gospel for us?
Righteousness with compassion
In the dilemma between the pregnancy of Mary and the application of the law for adulterers, Joseph decided to abandon her silently without accusation. He was righteous and compassionate.
Attentive to God’s signs
Joseph shows perfect fidelity to the angel’s message. He understood so he did not question nor refuse. He believed.
Immediately, Joseph obeys at once, without hesitation or complaints.
Since his acceptance, Joseph with Mary entered in a very supernatural way, through human and simple duties. He becomes the pillar of the Holy Family.
O Joseph, we need your intercession to be attached to Mary and Jesus and to spread the faith in them, in families, Church and world.
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