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Gospel Reading for December 18, 2025 – Matthew 1: 18-25
IMPORTANT INSTRUMENT
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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The conception of Jesus was very unusual. Perhaps if we were in the shoes of St. Joseph, to whom Mary was betrothed we would be furious and demand to know the man responsible for her pregnancy and immediately divorce her even if her life would be in peril by being stoned to death. Perhaps if we were in the shoes of St. Joseph, we would treat the dream as just a dream and nothing else.
St. Joseph was an IMPORTANT INSTRUMENT in God’s plan of salvation. Although it was Mary who was called to be the mother of Jesus, because of St. Joseph’s trust in Mary and in God, he became the foster father of Jesus.
We may not be the one called for a special role in God’s plan, but we may be an IMPORTANT INSTRUMENT for the one being given a special role to succeed. This is our call!
Lord Jesus, help us to always be alert and trust God!
