Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 1, 16; 18-21; 24a
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.
Now 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.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
Saint Joseph, pray for us
1. A righteous man. Saint Joseph serves as our example, especially through his virtue and his sense of justice toward himself and others. This is the maturity we should strive for. Work on cultivating a just heart. Sometimes, you might treat others with fairness but not give yourself the value you deserve. Justice is tied to prudence, because being fair helps us act wisely, especially in difficult moments as Joseph did. He shows us that living with both fairness and prudence is essential—by being prudent, we also become truly just.
2. Do not be afraid. Often, before making decisions, we experience fear. Facing fear is one of our greatest challenges. Yet it is remarkable how God’s light can guide us in those moments. That’s why I always encourage you to pray before making important decisions. Seek God’s guidance so that fear doesn’t make you let go of what is truly important. Courage overcomes fear. We gain courage by having confidence, confidence by finding security, and security by trusting in God. Trust comes from surrendering to the Lord, and surrender is possible when we look at life with faith.
3. When he awoke. Today, let’s ask Saint Joseph to help us “wake up.” May he guide us to recognize the decisions we need to make and, once we’ve made them, to follow through with action. We can’t remain stuck in endless reflection; we must act and apply our decisions in daily life. Accept your circumstances, face them, and move forward. Ask Saint Joseph for his guidance.
Remember that something good is on the way!
God bless you and be with you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
