A MAN OF INCREDIBLE FAITH
Like Mary,
Joseph is a model of faith for us. He is a faithful witness and servant of God's
unfolding plan of redemption.
Today's Gospel
shows us how Joseph, a descendant of David, took Mary as his wife and adopted
her Child as his own. As a result of his actions, Jesus was incorporated into
the house of David in fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies. But the
Gospel contains a puzzling element. The angel assures Joseph that he should not
fear to take Mary as his wife. What was Joseph afraid of? Knowing Mary, could
he possibly have thought that she had been unfaithful to Him? If so, his
reaction would not have been fear, but rather revulsion and indignation.
Moreover, the evangelist clearly states that Mary "was found with child
through the power of the Holy Spirit." Only Joseph himself could have been
the person to find her with child through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Confiding in him would have been the most natural thing for Mary to do.
Joseph's fear,
then, was not about Mary. It was about himself. Humble as he was, he could not
see how he of all people could presume to become the husband of someone who had
been touched by God. He felt unworthy to take part in so holy a situation. The
word of the angel did not give Joseph information, but direction - to go ahead
with his marriage. Joseph believed in the Divine message to take Mary as his
wife and to accept the Child in her womb as the promised Messiah.
Like Mary, Joseph
is a model of faith for us. He is a faithful witness and servant of God's
unfolding plan of redemption. The old expression, "Life is what happens
when you are making other plans," could be said of Joseph today. Our plans
could make a sudden change for us as well. In fact, I am sure you can think of
times throughout your life that they did. How did you handle it at the time?
Think about it. Were you angry, stricken with anxiety, uncertain what to do? Or
were you ready to believe in the promises of God even when faced with
perplexing circumstances and changes that seemed to be insurmountable problems?
God has not left us alone, for He has sent us His only Begotten Son, our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ.
Christmas is
appealing to us because it brings God so close to us. Jesus is indeed
"Emmanuel" - God with us - in a simple, human way. But we should
never allow the simplicity and humanness of Christmas dull our sense of wonder
and awe. We would do well to imitate Joseph in his humility because, in many
ways, we are just like him! Oftentimes, we feel that we are not worthy, but it
is God who calls us to do His will and that is what makes us His worthy
children. We are worthy of taking part in God's work here on earth; to take
part in so holy a reality. What a great gift!
In the Responsorial
Psalm we proclaim today, "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who
alone does wondrous deeds" (Ps 72:18). Let us prepare to celebrate
Christmas - the Feast of the Incarnation - with joyful hearts and renew our
faith and hope in God!