Gospel: Mt 1:16, 18–21, 24a (or Lk 2:41–51a)
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and from her came Jesus who is called the Christ—the Messiah.
This is how Jesus Christ was born: Mary his mother had been given to Joseph in marriage, but before they lived together,
she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph, her husband, made plans to divorce her in all secrecy. He
was an upright man, and in no way did he want to disgrace her. While he was pondering over this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a
dream and said, “Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She has conceived by the Holy Spirit,
and now she will bear a son. You shall call him ‘Jesus’ for he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph awoke up, he did what the
angel of the Lord had told him to do, and he took his wife to his home.
Reflection:
The role of Joseph in the plan of salvation is very important. It was
prophesied that the Messiah would be from the stock of David. Mary
belongs to the clan of Levites. Hence she could not provide the Davidic
lineage to Jesus. Joseph comes from the House of David. That is why he
returned to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house
and line of David during the census ordered by Quirinius, the governor
of Syria. The plan of God would have been jeopardized had he not
consented to be the foster father of the Lord when He became Man. Joseph is a
man of few words. Yet he has done much for the plan of God to succeed. May we
be like him who silently work for the kingdom to be realized here on earth soon.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2021