Opening Prayer
Gracious God, I put myself before you in this moment with waiting heart, expectant desire. Open my eyes that I may see your promise fulfilled; open my ears that I may hear your word whispered to my deepest being.
Amen.
Passage
Matthew 1:18-25
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Reflection - Al Petelinsek
When I agreed to write about Joseph accepting Jesus as his son, I had all kinds of great ideas. Instead when I read this passage, I realized that Joseph, by accepting Mary in marriage and also accepting her child (Immanuel, God with us): took on the full acceptance of living with God in his house, at his dinner table, at his carpentry shop, every moment of every day. Think of this friends. Every breath and step, God will be watching him and Joseph accepted Him to come live with him. We all have Jesus living with us. We, like Joseph, accepted Immanuel when we publicly professed it at our Baptism. His Spirit lives within us every moment of every day, everywhere we work or play. The Spirit grows and glows when we do.
During this season of Advent, remember the song “This Little Light of Mine.” Sing it and reflect on the Holy Spirit within us, shining through us with peace and joy. Shine it bright as many need some joy and good cheer this year.
Closing Prayer
My Lord, may all that I have seen of you and all that I have heard from your word now enflesh itself in me. Send me from this place as the incarnate promise of life to all whose life I will touch this day.
Amen.