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

Two people living an ordinary life fell in love and decided to get married.

And before their marriage could take place, even though they were betrothed, which is like a commitment to be married, Mary receives this extraordinary message. And when you think about it, what was she doing? Imagining if this could actually happen to her? I mean, I find it fascinating because she was no different than the rest of us. In one sense, she was human.

Yes, she was free of sin, but she was a human being with the same fears and wonders and worries. She hears this news and Joseph hears it, and he understands. How clearer could it be that the coming of Jesus into your life and mine comes in ordinary ways? When we simply have to say to ourselves and to God, I accept, I believe I will become part of what you want me to be a part of.

It's a gift called faith, and it means everything.

Closing Prayer

Father, the extraordinary is consistently coming to us through the ordinary. Help us to be attentive, to listen, to wonder, and to believe that things happen in a way that they have so much more meaning than we thought. So give us the wisdom to discern all that is happening in our world, in our life. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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