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:
Do you have a devotion to Saint Joseph?
If only all husbands are like Saint Joseph, there would be no broken
marriages; there would be no suffering wives, there would be no suffering
children that ultimately bear the trauma of their parents’ separation.
Joseph initially planned to divorce Mary quietly until 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 (Matthew
1:20-22).”
When he woke up, he humbly did what was commanded to him by the angel of
the Lord. What if Joseph brushed aside the message of the Lord? The Blessed
Mother would have been in a very difficult situation. She could have died
through stoning a brutal punishment for those who bore a child out of wedlock
during that time.
There would be no birth of Jesus; therefore there would be no
savior for mankind. But thanks to Joseph who listened to the Lord. With
Joseph’s acceptance of the responsibility the plan of God was laid out without
anymore hindrance.
God has a plan for you also, just like Joseph who listened and obeyed;
God wants you also to listen and obey. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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