From the Gospel according to Matthew 1:18–24
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 conceive 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.
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 conceive 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.
Wake Up!
The angel reminds Joseph of his nobility: “Son of David,” and invites him to step into the greatness of God’s plan. Accepting it is frightening, it means embracing what we don’t understand and letting go of control.
Today, Christ is about to come, and He calls you, “child of God,” to welcome His plan. That call may come through unexpected or confusing situations that ask for an act of trust. There may be things in your relationship with your spouse that you don’t understand. From a human point of view, welcoming it may seem crazy, but that step is the threshold to the sublime, to the entrance of the Holy Spirit into your life, to calling things by what they truly are, not by what fear dictates. Joseph woke up, obeyed, and welcomed it. Just like that. And you, what are you going to do?
Applied to married life:
Fever woke María before the alarm clock. It was December 24th, the worst day to get sick. Christmas dinner had to be organized; the whole family was coming. Juan, her husband, offered to take over, but María wouldn’t let go, it had to be perfect. Exhausted, she collapsed onto the bed and fell back asleep.
She dreamed she was in a pastry shop. The pastries she had made were perfect: golden, delicate, flawless. People crowded around the display window, admiring them.
— How wonderful! Such perfection! —they said.
But the door was locked. No one could come in. And she couldn’t go out either. She stared at the pastries over and over, afraid they might stop being liked. The more they were admired, the lonelier she felt: trapped, unable to truly meet anyone.
She woke up suddenly and went to the kitchen. There was Juan, reading a recipe with a focused expression.
— Juan —she said— could you take charge of dinner?
He looked up and smiled.
— Of course.
— Really —she added— I trust you.
She went back to bed and, before falling asleep, prayed softly:
— Lord, help me break free from my slavery, to love, to be present, to welcome.
Hours later, feeling clearer, she got up. The house smelled different from what she would have chosen. She saw simple dishes, others improvised, and her husband tired—but fully given.
During dinner, the temptation returned: “I would have done it differently.” And each time she silently repeated:
— Jesus, free me from this slavery.
Laughter filled the living room. For the first time in a long while, María was truly present.
When everyone had left, María and Juan, before the Nativity scene, thanked the newborn Child for that peaceful night they had lived:
— Thank you for your self-giving —she said.
— And thank you for your courage —he replied.
Mother,
show us how to wake up to the life of your Son. May He who redeemed us with His Blood be forever blessed and praised.