Gospel:
Matthew 1:18-25
This is
how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to
Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the
Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to
expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention
when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his
people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said
through the prophet:
Behold,
the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us. When Joseph
awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into
his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son and he named him
Jesus.
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Reflection:
What if
Joseph did not listen to the angel of God? Mary could have died violently by
way of stoning. For that is the punishment for those caught cheating on their
betrothed husband. But Joseph listened to the voice of the angel of God who
told him that the fruit of Mary’s womb was brought to her by the Holy Spirit.
We see
humility in Joseph, we see obedience and love for God in Joseph and we also see
the great love of Joseph for Mary. Deep in his heart Joseph loved Mary to the
deepest core of his bones, Mary is his everything so to speak and Joseph loved
Mary more than his life! If Joseph did not love Mary more than his life, he
could have easily left Mary and told the authorities about her out of wedlock
pregnancy.
Aside
from Joseph’s love for Mary, Joseph also loved God for if he did not love God
he could have simply brushed aside the angel of God and move on with his plan
of divorcing Mary. But Joseph loved God this is the reason why he listened to
the voice of God coursed through an Angel.
In the
Sacrament of Matrimony/Marriage the voice of God is an ever present guiding
light that couples must always follow. God tells the couples to stay with the
Marriage covenant no matter the challenges until mortal death breaks it. Of
course no marriage is made in heaven, husbands and wives have their own
behavioral shortcomings.
However,
if couples would make the humility, the commitment, the love of God and the
holiness of both Joseph and Mary their role model in their married life. There
would be no divorce; no deception and lies.
What
would only remain is love, love that is humble, love that is truthful and love
that is forgiving.– Marino J. Dasmarinas
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