GOSPEL PEARLS

Obedient (to God) and Silent

«Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.» (Mt 1: 24)

Gospel Pearls 18_12_2019

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.

Saint Joseph was already a pious Israelite and he did not want to expose Mary, his promised spouse, to dishonor. We can thus say that Saint Joseph was the precursor of the Church Militant, that, while never fully understanding the plans of God, entrusts itself completely to Him. God repays him by making him part of his immense plans and freeing him from doubt. Let us call upon Saint Joseph so that he may assist us to overcome the assaults of doubt and despair with which the devil seeks to assault us up until our final agony.