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.

Opening Prayer: Lord increase my faith in your presence in Scripture and in my daily life. Give me eyes to discover you in all things. May my awareness of your goodness increase my love for you, and may my love strengthen my hope in your promise. May I, and all my loved ones, one day be with you in heaven.

Encountering Christ:

1. God Comes to Joseph’s Aid: Faced with a difficult situation, Joseph was unsure how to proceed with his betrothal to Mary. Yet his love for God’s law and his love for Mary made him think that the best course of action was a quiet divorce. Seeking to do the Lord’s will in such singular circumstances, Joseph needed guidance. Therefore, the Lord sent his angel to Joseph in a dream. God showed Joseph the big picture, “... the virgin shall be with child… and they shall name him Emmanuel,” and he gave Joseph the next practical step, “Do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.” God will always give us the grace to discern his will if we sincerely seek it, whether by using our reason aided by grace, or by more supernatural means.   

2. The Mystery Remains: As husband to Mary and foster father to Jesus, Joseph was immersed in a profound mystery. While God assists us in knowing his will, he does not always fill in all the blanks. Rather, God seems to inform us on an “as needed” basis. This approach reminds us that we are not in control. We make decisions using our freedom, but we control neither the outcome of those decisions nor the response of others. God remains Lord of history and asks us to place our trust in him. He invites us to be his disciples, and let God be God. When we allow ourselves to be led into the mystery, we are free to marvel at the grandeur of God and his providential will in our lives, often seen only in retrospect.

3. Joseph Is Obedient to the Lord: Scripture does not record a single word of Joseph’s, but it does enumerate several actions, each in obedience to the Lord: taking Mary into his home, naming the child “Jesus,” and bringing Mary and Jesus to Egypt and then back again. His docility to God’s inspirations is what enables him to fulfill his mission as head of the Holy Family. He expresses his faith and love through his actions. The ready obedience of both Joseph and Mary are models for Christ in his obedience to the Father.   Additionally, Joseph showed his foster son that a man’s strength is ultimately rooted in reliance upon God’s grace.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, thank you for sharing your foster father, Saint Joseph, with us in the Church. Encouraged by his example and confident in his intercession, may we, like him, abandon ourselves to God’s providential will in our lives. Help us to fulfill our duties with prompt and joyful obedience. 

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will complete one of my responsibilities at work or at home with a spirit of joy and self-offering to the Lord.

For Further Reflection: “The Christmas Mysteries through Jewish Eyes,” by Joe Heschmeyer, Catholic Answers, 1/1/19, https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/the-christmas-mysteries-through-jewish-eyes.

Fr. John Bullock, LC, works with Regnum Christi in Cincinnati, Ohio. You can read his blog at: https://www.headandheartcatholic.com.