Reflection for December 18, Saturday of the Third Week of Advent: Matthew 1:18-25

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 always follow the will of the Lord?

Upon learning that Mary was already pregnant Joseph decided to quietly divorce her. But an Angel of the Lord appeared through his dream. And intervened and told him not to divorce Mary for the reason that the child in her womb was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 

After waking up Joseph obeyed what the angel told him. He stayed with Mary, He protected her and saw to it that she would receive the best love and care that she could ever have. Such is Saint Joseph, righteous, humble, docile and obedient to the will of the Lord.  

In this time wherein, the Sacrament of Matrimony is not given much importance by some liberated minds and is treated as a simple paper contract by many of us. We have Saint Joseph reminding us about the sacredness of the Sacrament of Marriage. We have Saint Joseph reminding us that we must not stray and we must not betray it no matter the temptation. We have Saint Joseph reminding us that Marriage is not only a paper contract. It is in fact a covenant between the couple and Jesus.  

Let us examine ourselves on how we put value on the Sacrament of Marriage. And let us follow the example of Saint Joseph on how he deeply loved the Blessed Mother. And how he sacrificed his own will to follow the will of God. 

Do you always follow the will of the Lord for your marriage? – Marino J. Dasmarinas