Gospel: December 18, 2023

(Monday)

3rd Week of Advent

Psalter: Week 3 / (Violet)

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 72: 1-2, 12-13, 18-19

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.

1st Reading: Jeremiah 23: 5-8Gospel: Matthew 1: 18-25This is how Jesus Christ was born. Mary his mother had been given to Joseph in marriage but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.

Then Joseph, her husband, made plans to divorce her in all secrecy. He was an upright man, and in no way did he want to discredit her.

While he was pondering over this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She has conceived by the Holy Spirit, and now she will bear a son. You shall call him ‘Jesus’ for he will save his people from their sins.”

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All this happened in order to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and he will be called Emmanuel which means: God-with-us. When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do and he took his wife to his home. He did not have any marital relations with her. When she gave birth to a son, Joseph gave him the name of Jesus.

Reflection:“Joseph is faithful to the covenant.”

In these final days of Advent, we turn our attention from the coming of the Lord and his kingdom at the end of time to his coming to earth as a human being in his birth in Bethlehem. Our readings look at the events leading up to Jesus’ birth. Today we hear the story of the angel’s announcement to Joseph in a dream.

In a few short verses, Matthew tells us everything we need to know about Joseph so that he can serve as a model for our own discipleship. Joseph is faithful to the covenant, following God’s Law and living justly. He is kind, desiring to protect Mary’s reputation and save her from shame. Joseph is attentive to the Lord, listening for his word. Joseph is a man of action, following the angel’s instructions without delay, selflessly accepting Mary and Jesus into his home with love and compassion. May we, like Joseph, strive to be righteous, faithful, kind, attentive and compassionate so that we can make Christ a home in our hearts.