GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23
The Book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ,
the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Abraham became the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.
Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah,
whose mother was Tamar.
Perez became the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
Ram the father of Amminadab.
Amminadab became the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
Salmon the father of Boaz,
whose mother was Rahab.
Boaz became the father of Obed,
whose mother was Ruth.
Obed became the father of Jesse,
Jesse the father of David the king.
David became the father of Solomon,
whose mother had been the wife of Uriah.
Solomon became the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asaph.
Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Joram,
Joram the father of Uzziah.
Uzziah became the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.
Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amos,
Amos the father of Josiah.
Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers
at the time of the Babylonian exile.
After the Babylonian exile,
Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
Zerubbabel the father of Abiud.
Abiud became the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
Azor the father of Zadok.
Zadok became the father of Achim,
Achim the father of Eliud,
Eliud the father of Eleazar.
Eleazar became the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,
Jacob 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.”
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.”
The Word of the Lord
Welcoming Brings Its Reward
We are undoubtedly looking at one of the darkest moments in Joseph’s life. Without understanding what is happening and overwhelmed by sorrow, he remains open to God’s voice, allowing Him to change his plans. Instead of withdrawing, he chooses to welcome his wife. How much we spouses can learn from Joseph!
When we are faced with the mystery of the other person’s heart, when we do not understand why they act the way they do, when they do not see things as we do, or when their weakness or their sin becomes apparent, our first temptation is to pull away. We break communion at the very moment when our vocation calls us to give ourselves to one another and to welcome one another.
In the midst of difficulty, listen too to the angel’s words: “Do not be afraid to welcome your spouse.” Engrave them on your heart. The angel does not simply tell Joseph, “Don’t worry.” He calls him to embody love. Now is the moment! “Do not be afraid to take Mary, your wife, into your home.”
Joseph trusted God and welcomed her. That is what we must do if we want to experience the promise of a marriage lived as God intended.
Are you going through a difficult time? Welcome one another.
Do you have differences? Welcome one another.
Have you hurt each other? Welcome one another.
Do you struggle to understand one another? Welcome one another.
And look at the fruit: Joseph welcomed Mary, and by welcoming Mary, the fruit was Jesus.
Therefore, do not focus on how difficult it is to welcome your spouse. Do not focus on what you think you are losing. Ask the Holy Spirit to enlarge your heart, overcome your self-love, and throw yourself into loving, because every time you welcome one another and give yourselves to each other, you gain Christ.
Applied to Married Life
Jonathan and Helen are driving home after dinner with some friends. Helen is at the wheel. Jonathan, tired and eager to get home, gazes out of the window in mild despair as car after car overtakes them and disappears into the distance ahead. Then he glances at the speedometer.
Jonathan: Helen, darling… you’re doing 40.
Helen: So?
Jonathan: Well, at this rate we’ll get home tomorrow!
Helen: Oh, honestly, you’re so dramatic. I just enjoy chatting with you while we’re driving. Don’t you?
Jonathan: Haha, but what’s that got to do with anything?
Jonathan is about to press the point, but he looks at her. He knows she needs to drive this way to feel safe, so he says nothing. She smiles at him, knowing that Jonathan likes to drive a bit faster, yet she accepts him just as he is.
Helen: I love you, Carlos Sainz…
Jonathan: And I love you, my little tortoise.
This way, both of them feel welcomed and accepted, just as they are.
Mother,
How simple it is to build love, and yet how difficult we find it. Teach us true humility, the humility that allows us to enter into what is hidden and, there, discover genuine love. Praise be to Jesus!