Gospel Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.
Now 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.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
Reflection I often wonder how much Joseph and Mary knew who Jesus would be as he grew and proclaimed a new truth, a new awareness of God. I don't believe they did know the fullness of who He would be. And it reminds me so much that when we are dealing with him and asking him to guide our life, he's taking us step by step, not directly to the end and the purpose of our fullness of life, but rather each step is something that is one more step toward the fullness of who he wants us to be.
Takes time, reflection, and wonder, and the imagination that somehow in each of our lives we have a goal to complete and we will never know fully the fullness of that until we’re with God in heaven forever.
Closing Prayer Father, you speak to us in so many ways through dreams, through other signs, through a person's experiences they share with us. Help us always to be eagerly listening to how you are revealing to us the role that we're asked to play in this world. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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