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Gospel Reading for December 18, 2023 – Matthew 1: 18-25
WILLING
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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Joseph must have loved Mary so much that he was WILLING to take part in her important role in God’s plan of salvation. He must have loved God so much that when an angel spoke to him even in just a dream, he believed. Joseph trusted what the angel said and trusted Mary too. He brought up Jesus as if he were his own.
LOVE and TRUST have to go together for a relationship to withstand the test of time. If we truly love God, we continue to trust him amidst pain and suffering. We do not blame him for our misfortunes, rather, we ask him to help us overcome them because we believe he will help us.
Jesus, Emmanuel, be with us always!
