GOSPEL
Jesus will be born from Mary, betrothed to Josep, son of David.
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 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.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Welcome what comes from God.
Today the Gospel tells me to not be afraid and welcome what God wants to convey to you through your spouse, because it comes from the Holy Spirit. Name it according to Holy Scripture or Doctrine to ensure that it comes from the Holy Spirit, and if it is consistent with the Truth, embrace it without fear. If not, ask yourself what God wants from that situation He has allowed.
All this will happen to fulfill the truth of the Sacrament of Marriage, through which my spouse is a minister of God’s grace for me. That is my vocation, just as Joseph’s was to be the husband of Mary and the father of Jesus, to fulfill the scripture.
Applied to married life:
Helen: Yesterday, in our marital embrace, you asked me for something that I believe is inconsistent with the dignity of the children of God. I wondered what God wanted from that situation, and I realized that I had to talk to you about the wonderful dignity you have. In addition to being a child of God, a temple of the Holy Spirit, bought at the price of Christ’s Blood, you are a minister of God’s grace for me. I wanted to remind you of this so that you keep it in mind at all times. You are a minister of God’s grace for me, and I am attentive to what you say or do or ask of me, because I hope that you truly are. I ask that whenever you act with me, it be in accordance with the immense dignity that God has conferred upon you.
Peter: You are right, Helen. Thank you for telling me. Your words come from God and, are clearly for me. Thank you for being His mediator. I am very grateful to God for having you, and I promise to respond to this wonderful gift with the dignity it deserves.
Helen: Thank you for embracing this message with such opennes, for your simplicity and nobility. I wouldn’t have welcomed it with such humility. Now you are truly being a witness to God’s action for me. Thank you.
Mother,
May we always be attentive to God’s voice, discerning the circumstances or advice we receive. Once discerned that it comes from God, may we be open to doing what He asks, however strange it may seem to us at times. With this simplicity, we are ready to welcome the Child Jesus with everything He wants to bring into our lives. Praise be to God.