[ Today's Readings ]
Joseph is a righteous man. He has much to teach us about faith.
For this reason, it depends on faith,
so that it may be a gift
It isn't about Joseph's ability to correctly assess the situation. After all, he gets that part wrong.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
It is rather about Joseph's willingness to lay his own plans aside and trust in the LORD when he reveals a better plan.
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.
Abraham's faith in God's power is what makes him the father of many nations. Joseph's faith in God's power is what allows him to become to foster father of God himself. It would be easy, humanly speaking, to encounter the situations that Abraham and Joseph encounter and to not trust God. It would be easy for Abraham to remain in the place where he is living and to not even attempt to have children at his age. It would be easy for Joseph to choose to divorce Mary so that he wouldn't have to deal with the damage to his reputation which remaining with her would inevitably entail.
In spite of the human difficulty, relying entirely on faith, Abraham and Joseph obey God.
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
Because of that faith we have access to salvation through Jesus Christ. Because Abraham and Joseph place their trust in God Jesus brings his kingdom to earth, to endure forever, to stand firm forever.
Joseph intercedes for us today that we would have faith like his faith. He has the compassion and love of a father not just for Jesus but for all of the brothers and sisters of Jesus through faith, including we ourselves. He who is the father of Jesus through faith but not through blood is more than willing to fully accept as sons those who are brothers and sisters of Jesus through faith.
Thank you Joseph, for trusting in God. Because you believe we have access together with you to the Father through your son. Pray for us!
"He shall say of me, 'You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.'
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm.
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