4th Sunday of Advent year ’A’ “When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do : he took his wife to his home.” Is.7,10-66 Ps.23 Rm.1,1-7 Mt.1,18-24 "This is how Jesus Christ came to be born : his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband, Joseph, being an upright man and wanting to spare her disgrace, decided to divorce her informally." Jesus comes into the world through the lineage of David, thus responding to the people of Israel’s expectations. Joseph was an upright man, a believer who was coherent in his faith, available to enter into God’s designs. He has the Law for him, he knows too that if he denounced Mary this would have terrible consequences for Mary and the Child. He makes up his mind to go for the most discreet solution, one that is the most respectful of the persons, the closest possible to the one God Himself would have taken. The message given by Joseph is one of discretion. Joseph is in a state of disarray, God’s Infinite Love is an ordeal for him. Whereas Elizabeth is in a state of joy, proclaiming ’How is it I have this happiness for the mother of my Lord to come as far as me?’ Joseph is perplexed. So are we, too, at certain moments in our lives! We need to both awaken and delve into the Happiness of God. He is the very heart of our life, he is there, beyond our darkness. We are so in need of Mary’s happiness and so we go searching for it. “He had made up his mind to do this when suddenly the angel of the Lod appeared to him in a dream and said ’Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit; she will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus; because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.” Mary had the happiness to believe in God her Saviour, beyond any kind of appearances. At the Annunciation, God had filled her in all sorts of ways, joining her deep heart, her desire to be loved and to love. She had been happy t say yes. In saying yes tot he angel, she said yes to God. She hadn’t been scandalised by the unexpected path God had for her. ’Blessed is she who believes’, Elizabeth said to her. Joseph is given to us today in his obedience of faith. ’Don’t be afraid Joseph to take Mary as your bride, for what she has, comes from the Holy Spirit.’ Joseph is taken aback in taking Mary. ’Don’t be afraid, Joseph to take Mary to your home, for what she has, comes from the Holy Spirit.’ In welcoming her, Joseph was welcoming this extraordinary gift from God. "Now all this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken through the prophet : ’Look, the virgin is with child And will give birth to a son Whom they will call Immanuel.’ When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do : he took his wife to his home." What is proposed to Joseph and to Mary is a new encounter in the Infinite Love of God. ’Rejoice, daughter of Sion, the Lord is in you as a valiant Saviour.’ We also have the proposition to welcome this little daughter of Israel as a gift of God for us. Mary believed, and she proposes to us to enter into he obedience of faith, so that like her we may be able to welcome Jesus. This means to enter into the secret of Love of the Father’s Heart. The Father loved the world so much that he gave his Only son to it. In welcoming Mary, we enter into the surprising Covenant of God and mankind. The one who is given to Joseph is going to reveal to him God’s infinite Love for humanity. Mary reveals how she welcomes this Love for herself : ’He looked upon the lowliness of his servant. We ask for the grace to welcome Mary :’Don’t be afraid to take Mary to your home’.
4th Sunday of Advent year ’A’
"This is how Jesus Christ came to be born : his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband, Joseph, being an upright man and wanting to spare her disgrace, decided to divorce her informally." Jesus comes into the world through the lineage of David, thus responding to the people of Israel’s expectations. Joseph was an upright man, a believer who was coherent in his faith, available to enter into God’s designs. He has the Law for him, he knows too that if he denounced Mary this would have terrible consequences for Mary and the Child. He makes up his mind to go for the most discreet solution, one that is the most respectful of the persons, the closest possible to the one God Himself would have taken. The message given by Joseph is one of discretion. Joseph is in a state of disarray, God’s Infinite Love is an ordeal for him. Whereas Elizabeth is in a state of joy, proclaiming ’How is it I have this happiness for the mother of my Lord to come as far as me?’ Joseph is perplexed. So are we, too, at certain moments in our lives! We need to both awaken and delve into the Happiness of God. He is the very heart of our life, he is there, beyond our darkness. We are so in need of Mary’s happiness and so we go searching for it. “He had made up his mind to do this when suddenly the angel of the Lod appeared to him in a dream and said ’Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit; she will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus; because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.” Mary had the happiness to believe in God her Saviour, beyond any kind of appearances. At the Annunciation, God had filled her in all sorts of ways, joining her deep heart, her desire to be loved and to love. She had been happy t say yes. In saying yes tot he angel, she said yes to God. She hadn’t been scandalised by the unexpected path God had for her. ’Blessed is she who believes’, Elizabeth said to her. Joseph is given to us today in his obedience of faith. ’Don’t be afraid Joseph to take Mary as your bride, for what she has, comes from the Holy Spirit.’ Joseph is taken aback in taking Mary. ’Don’t be afraid, Joseph to take Mary to your home, for what she has, comes from the Holy Spirit.’ In welcoming her, Joseph was welcoming this extraordinary gift from God. "Now all this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken through the prophet : ’Look, the virgin is with child And will give birth to a son Whom they will call Immanuel.’ When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do : he took his wife to his home." What is proposed to Joseph and to Mary is a new encounter in the Infinite Love of God. ’Rejoice, daughter of Sion, the Lord is in you as a valiant Saviour.’ We also have the proposition to welcome this little daughter of Israel as a gift of God for us. Mary believed, and she proposes to us to enter into he obedience of faith, so that like her we may be able to welcome Jesus. This means to enter into the secret of Love of the Father’s Heart. The Father loved the world so much that he gave his Only son to it. In welcoming Mary, we enter into the surprising Covenant of God and mankind. The one who is given to Joseph is going to reveal to him God’s infinite Love for humanity. Mary reveals how she welcomes this Love for herself : ’He looked upon the lowliness of his servant. We ask for the grace to welcome Mary :’Don’t be afraid to take Mary to your home’.