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.
Reflection The coming of God into the world to reveal Himself fully as He is happens through this very event that we've just listened to. And at the heart of it, I want to focus on the names that were given. Emmanuel The word means God is with us. So this couple realized somehow in this mystery of this virgin birth, there would be something radically new about who God is in his relationship with us.
He is with us, not distant, not far away, but with us, in us. And it’s interesting that the name that Joseph gave to his son, the son of God, was Jesus. And the word means God saves. He saves. God enters into the world to save us from everything that could rob us from establishing the kingdom of Heaven on this earth.
Closing Prayer Father, we ask you for the gift of imagination, curiosity. We need to ponder these images, these stories of you entering into our world in a way that no one ever really expected. Keep us pondering and wondering so that we can become more aware of what is actually happening with you. Now, no longer separate, but within each of us creating for us the gift of life. And we asked this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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