Joseph’s Mercy & Fidelity
Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year A)
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. Matthew 1:22–24
Try to imagine Joseph’s dilemma. He loved Mary, but suddenly she was pregnant. And Joseph knew that he was not the father. So his first thought was not to chastise her, question her, or ridicule her. Instead, the Gospel says that Joseph was “unwilling to expose her to shame.” This is a beautiful statement about the mercy and goodness of Saint Joseph. Instead of being self-concerned, his concern was for Mary not to experience shame at this unexpected pregnancy.
But of course the story goes much further. The angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, explaining to him that “it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her” and that this Child “will save his people from their sins.” Joseph’s response, as quoted above, was to then do “as the angel of the Lord had commanded him” and to take Mary and her new child into his home. Therefore, this Gospel passage for today reveals to us the mercy of Joseph as well as his fidelity to the will of God, no matter what God asked of him. These two qualities will greatly assist our lives, also, if we can strive to imitate Saint Joseph.
First, we all need to have mercy in life. This means that our only interest must be the good of the other. Too often when we have conflict in life, or are faced with some unexpected difficulty, we turn our eyes in upon ourselves. But a merciful heart never thinks about itself first. Instead, it thinks about the other and is fully detached from its own feelings to the point that the merciful soul is able to desire mercy for everyone, even those who have hurt it. Of course our Blessed Mother did not do anything to hurt Saint Joseph, but before he understood how she became pregnant, he certainly would have been tempted to be upset and hurt by her unexpected pregnancy. Thus, in imitation of Saint Joseph, we must always seek to have a heart full of mercy.
Perhaps Saint Joseph’s crowning virtue was his fidelity—not only to his new wife, but also to the will of God as it was revealed to Him through the mediation of this angel. And though we do not have angels appearing to us in dreams in the same way, we are gifted with the Gospels, the teachings of the Church and the lives of the saints to lead us into God’s will. Additionally, when we are truly open, God will certainly communicate to us His perfect will for our lives through our prayer and in our consciences. Our only duty must be unwavering fidelity to all that God speaks.
Reflect, today, upon these two virtues of Saint Joseph and consider how well you live them in your life. Do you show mercy to all, no matter what? Do you allow yourself to be drawn into the all-consuming desire to show mercy? If so, then you will also be imitating the virtue of fidelity to the will of God. God’s will is mercy itself. This is Who He is. Mercy must permeate our lives always.
My most merciful Jesus, You inspired Saint Joseph to be compassionate to Your dear mother at the time of great confusion over her pregnancy. Help me to imitate the mercy and goodness of Saint Joseph by never judging and by growing in a desire for mercy for all people, including those who have hurt me. May I do this in complete fidelity to Your most holy will. Jesus, I trust in You.
True Servants of God
Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year B)
“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38a (Year B)
What does it mean to be a “handmaid of the Lord?” The word “handmaid” means “servant.” And Mary identifies herself as a servant. Specifically, a servant of the Lord. Throughout history, some “handmaids” were slaves without any rights whatsoever. They were property of their owners and were required to do what they were told. In other times and cultures, a handmaid was a servant more by choice, enjoying certain rights. However, all handmaids are inferiors serving a superior.
Our Blessed Mother, however, is a brand new type of handmaid. Why? Because the one she was called to serve was the Most Holy Trinity. She was certainly an inferior serving one who is superior. But when the one you perfectly serve has perfect love for you, and directs you in ways that edify you, elevate your dignity, and transform you in holiness, then it is wise beyond description to not only serve this superior but to freely become a slave, lowering yourself as deeply as possible before such a superior. There should be no hesitation in this depth of servitude!
Our Blessed Mother’s servitude, therefore, is new in that it is the most radical form of servitude, but it is also freely chosen. And the reciprocal effect upon her from the Most Holy Trinity was to direct all her thoughts and actions, all her passions and desires and every single part of her life to glory, fulfillment and holiness of life.
We must learn from the wisdom and actions of our Blessed Mother. She submitted her life completely to the Most Holy Trinity, not only for her own good but also to set an example for each one of us. Our deepest and daily prayer must become that of hers: “I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Following her example will not only deeply unite us with our Triune God, but it will also have a similar effect upon us by making us instruments of the Savior of the World. We will become His “mother” in the sense that we will bring Jesus into our world for others. What a glorious calling we have been given to imitate this most holy Mother of God.
Reflect, today, upon your call to pray this prayer of our Blessed Mother. Reflect upon the words, consider the meaning of this prayer, and strive to make it your own prayer today and every day. Imitate her, and you will begin to more fully share in her glorious life of grace.
Dearest Mother Mary, pray for me that I may imitate your perfect “Yes” to the Most Holy Trinity. May your prayer become my prayer, and may the effects of your surrender as a handmaid of the Lord also affect my life profoundly. Lord, Jesus, may Your perfect will, in union with the will of the Father and the Holy Spirit, be done in my life today and always. Jesus, I trust in You.
The Witness of Mary and Joseph
Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year C)
“Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” Luke 1:45
As we enter into the fourth week of Advent, we are given our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph to reflect upon. Though our Blessed Mother was perfect, and St. Joseph was a deeply virtuous man, they were both still fully human and would have walked through Mary’s pregnancy and Jesus’ birth with every human emotion and experience.
St. Joseph was faced with an extraordinary mystery as he discovered his wife was pregnant. He knew her to be a woman of exceptional virtue and holiness and had to reconcile that with her surprising pregnancy. Even after the angel appeared to him in a dream he would have had questions arise in his mind as he faced this situation.
Our Blessed Mother was also invited by God to face her pregnancy in faith. Her response was perfect, “Let it be done to me according to your word.” She could not explain nor understand what was happening but, nonetheless, she knew deep in her soul that God was in charge leading all to His glory.
Both Mary and Joseph are wonderful models of faith and obedience. They were obedient to the will of God despite the fact that the will of God drew them into an incredible and unfathomable mystery. They were first-hand witnesses to the salvation of the world and to the greatest act ever known. And they both embraced this mystery and accepted it in faith.
Reflect, today, upon your own invitations from God to embrace the mysteries of life. God’s ways are often more than we can comprehend and figure out. Mary and Joseph give us the witness of how we are to handle every mystery God invites us to participate in. Say “Yes” to the will of God just as this holy couple did.
Dearest Mother Mary and Saint Joseph, pray for me that I may have the faith you both lived. When questions arise in my heart, help me to respond generously to God as you did. May I trust in all that God has spoken in imitation of each one of you. Jesus, I trust in You.
The Perfect Plan of God
December 17, Advent Weekday
Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. Matthew 1:15b–16
We begin, today, an “octave” of immediate preparation for the birth of Christ. After this octave, we enter into the glorious Solemnity of Christmas!
On this day, we are presented with the long genealogy of Jesus’ ancestors. Verses 2–16 of Chapter One of Matthew’s Gospel present us with three series of fourteen ancestors. Abraham begins the genealogy and Jesus concludes it. Though there are many interesting facts that a Scripture scholar could take from this genealogy and all who are named in it, the heart and soul of its meaning is found in Verse One: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the son of Abraham.” This shows the direct link from the promise God made to Abraham, to its fulfillment in the person of the Son of God.
One thing we see in the fulfillment of this promise, is the fact that God is faithful. True, it took centuries for His promise to Abraham to be fulfilled, but it happened nonetheless and there is little doubt that Abraham rejoiced, greatly, as he witnessed the glorious birth of one of his descendants as the Savior of the World.
This also tells us that God’s timing and His ways are often different than what we may at first conceive. We can come up with many “good” ideas and hope they will come to pass. But, all too often, when they do not turn out immediately as we had hoped for, we can get discouraged.
Learn the lesson, today, of God’s perfect “long-term” plan. He knows what He is doing and He is bringing about His plan for us all. He is slowly and intentionally guiding us along the path that leads to salvation and peace. It may not be the way we would do things, but it is the perfect way.
Reflect, today, upon the plan God has for your life. Does He call you to patience and longsuffering? Does He require a trust that is demanding and absolute? Does He require a surrender of your own ideas and your own ambitions? Yes, He requires all of this and more. Recommit yourself to the perfect plan in the heart of our Father in Heaven and He will guide you each step of the way.
Lord, I know Your ways are perfect and that Your plans are so often not my own. Help me to let go of my own ideas and desires and to surrender more deeply, in trust, to all that You have prepared for me. Lord, Your wisdom is perfect. Help me to believe that with all my heart. Jesus, I trust in You.
The Faith of Saint Joseph
December 18, Advent Weekday
The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph 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.” Matthew 1:20b–21
Saint Joseph is a man that we know little about, but think about the importance of his role in salvation history. He was entrusted with the Son of God as his little child. At first, he was confused about how Mary could have gotten pregnant, but upon receiving the words of the angel in a dream, he accepted this Child as his own and cared for Him with a father’s love.
It’s significant to note that Saint Joseph embraced the Christ Child because of a dream. But was it only a dream? We all have many dreams and some of them are strange and nonsensical. So why did Saint Joseph rely upon the authenticity of this dream?
The answer to this question is quite simple. Even though the dream he had was just that – a dream, it was also accompanied by the gift of faith. Joseph knew, with a certainty beyond human reason, that the voice of God had spoken to him and he responded with generous faith.
We may not have dreams through which God speaks to us in the form of an angel, but God does speak to us all day long. He speaks directly to our minds and hearts, and also through the care and mediation of countless hosts of angels in various ways. The angels of God are constantly bringing us divine messages and inspirations. The question is whether or not we are listening.
Listening to the voice of God, through the mediation of the angels, is not about us seeing or hearing the angels speak, literally. Rather, it’s a matter of discerning this language of love spoken to us and calling us to faith.
Listen in the silence of your heart, this day, and allow yourself to follow the glorious witness of Saint Joseph as he responded to our Lord’s will with perfect faith and trust.
Lord, I long to hear Your sweet voice. I long to know all that You command of me and all that You inspire me to embrace in life. Give me the grace I need, to follow every inspiration in life so that I may fulfill Your perfect and holy will. Jesus, I trust in You.
Zechariah and His Doubts
December 19, Advent Weekday
“I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” Luke 1:19b–20
In describing the impact of this statement, here are a few descriptive words: Powerful, authoritative, definitive, shocking, humbling, overwhelming and divine. “I am Gabriel, who stand before God!” How many people can say that? Gabriel, being a celestial being is one of the few.
It’s interesting to contrast the conversation of Zechariah and Gabriel with the one that Mary has with Gabriel. Their responses to Gabriel seem similar, but Gabriel reacts to each of them in completely different ways. To Mary, Gabriel offers a simple explanation upon her request for more information: “How can this be?” she says. Gabriel responds, “The Holy Spirit will overshadow you…” But, in the case of Zechariah, the Angel does not give an explanation. Instead, Zechariah is struck mute for his failure to believe.
Though these reactions of Mary and Zechariah may seem similar on the surface, it’s clear that their hearts are quite far apart. For Mary, our Blessed Mother, her question was asked in perfect faith. She heard Gabriel speak and she believed. But faith seeks understanding and so Mary, in her perfect faith, sought to understand the mystery that was being presented to her. Gabriel responds with a brief insight and Mary is grateful for that.
Zechariah responds to the angel, “How shall I know this?” In other words, he admitted to not “knowing” these words to be true. Faith is knowledge of the clearest form and Zechariah failed to have faith. Therefore, he was struck mute as a sign that, without faith, there is nothing to speak.
Reflect, today, upon your own faith. Is it pure and eager to assent to all that God reveals? Are you ready and willing to believe all that God speaks to you? Though you may not receive His word through the direct mediation of an angel in visible form, you are privileged to have God speak to you constantly through these angelic advocates. When they speak, do you listen and respond with the faith of our Blessed Mother’s? Or, like Zechariah, do you hesitate and doubt the revelation?
Lord, give me the same pure and holy faith that Your Blessed Mother had. Though I acknowledge my sin and weakness, help me, by her example and intercession, to receive each and every word You wish to speak to me through the mediation of the hosts of Heaven. May I always be attentive to Your word and respond with a generous heart. Jesus, I trust in You.
Our Blessed Mother and Her Perfect Faith
December 20, Advent Weekday
But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. Luke 1:34–38
As we were given the example of Zechariah yesterday, so today we are given the witness of our Blessed Mother. And her witness is one of perfect faith!
What is her response? “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” We traditionally speak of this as her great “fiat” (yes) to God!
One thing we see within these words is that our Blessed Mother is offering her complete consent to something that she does not understand. The archangel gives a brief explanation to her but, if you honestly analyze this situation, what the angel says is beyond belief for most people. It’s also fair to conclude that the archangel’s explanation was not what convinced our Blessed Mother. She didn’t listen to these words, analyze them, consider how likely they were or were not, and then decide if she would believe. No, she listened, pondered, and then immediately consented to the words spoken. “Let it be done to me according to your word” she said. She didn’t say, “Let it be done to me insofar as I understand what you mean.” Our Blessed Mother’s faith was one that knew the truth without having to fully understand it. This is a gift!
Reflect, today, upon your own knowledge of the truth. Are you able to consent to the will of God and the truths of God without fully understanding them? Do you trust God more than you trust your own human reason? Are you willing to move forward in life by faith rather than by your limited human reason alone? Strive to imitate the pure faith-knowledge of our Blessed Mother. She knew the truth because it was spoken in her heart. And as she listened, she consented and embraced the holy will of God. We must do the same.
Lord, I desire to trust You with my whole mind, heart, soul and strength. Help me to always hear You speak and to respond with complete faith and generosity. Lord, may I imitate the perfect faith of Your mother by praying always with her, ‘let it be done to me according to Your word.’ Mother Mary, pray for us. Jesus, I trust in You.
An Infant Rejoices in the Presence of the Lord!
December 21, Advent Weekday
“Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” Luke 1:42b–45
There is a lot to take in from this beautiful passage spoken by Elizabeth to our Blessed Mother. First of all, we see the general tone of her greeting. It’s one of great affection. It’s easy to perceive the authentic joy in Elizabeth’s heart as she encounters the Mother of God and her Lord dwelling within Mother Mary’s womb.
“And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” This line reveals that Elizabeth took true joy in her encounter with Mary and saw this encounter as an abundant blessing. This is interesting since Elizabeth was so much older than Mary. She could have “expected” Mary to be there and taken her visit for granted. But she didn’t, she saw it with much gratitude.
It’s also clear that Elizabeth is not the only one who is blessed to encounter the Mother of God and her Child. Elizabeth’s baby, John the Baptist, who is living within her womb, is also filled with joy and leaps as an expression of that joy. What an amazing effect this visit has upon both Elizabeth and her unborn child.
This should raise a question in your own heart. Do you perceive the presence of Christ when He comes to you? If Elizabeth and her unborn child could perceive Him, shouldn’t we also be able to perceive Him? When you enter a church, for example, are you immediately aware of the divine presence of our Lord? Do you sense His closeness? And when you receive Him in Holy Communion, is your heart intently fixed upon the Savior coming to you and residing within you? This takes faith and it takes eyes that are fixed on the coming and presence of the Lord.
Pray, today, for the gift to see. Pray that our Lord will give you the eyes you need to perceive His divine presence all around you. And pray, especially, that your mind and heart will be open to His divine presence as you encounter and receive Him in Holy Communion.
Lord, I do desire to see You and to know You. I desire to discern Your presence all around me and in every way that You come to me. Help me, especially, to be attentive to Your presence in Holy Communion. May my heart always leap for joy at Your coming to me in this most perfect way. Jesus, I trust in You.
The Great Joy of Our Blessed Mother
December 22, Advent Weekday
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.” Luke 1:46–49
This song reveals the joy in the heart of the Mother of God. She humbly acknowledges the great things God has done for her and expresses her deepest joy.
It’s interesting to note that both her “soul” and her “spirit” are mentioned in this song of praise. Her soul “proclaims” and her spirit “rejoices.” What does this reveal?
In part, it reveals both an action of her own and an action of God. Our Blessed Mother’s “soul” refers to all of her human abilities within her mind, will, emotions and desires. It’s what makes her human. And with those human capacities she proclaims God’s greatness. In other words, with her mind she perceives God’s greatness, with her will she acknowledges and chooses to proclaim His greatness, and she does so with all of her feelings, emotions and desires. Her whole being was consumed with the greatness of God!
It also reveals that within her “spirit,” she was filled with the glorious gift of joy. As she proclaimed the greatness of God, the Holy Spirit flooded her and produced this spiritual fruit. Joy comes from God actively working within our lives. It’s a fruit of the Holy Spirit and our Blessed Mother had this gift in its fullness.
Reflect, today, upon your own soul and spirit. Do you imitate the perfect example of our Blessed Mother as she seeks to know, love and proclaim the greatness of God with her whole being? And do you allow the Holy Spirit to flood your spirit with joy? Ask our Blessed Mother to pray for you as we approach Christmas. Ask for the grace to “proclaim” and “rejoice” with her at the coming celebration of the birth of her Divine Son so that you, too, may sing her song of praise!
Dearest Mother, you offer us the perfect example of how to live as a faithful and humble servant of the Most High God. You proclaimed His greatness with your whole being and were filled with joy at His coming. Help me, by your powerful intercession, to imitate your faith and to love God with my whole being. Mother Mary, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.
Zechariah Returns to Faith
December 23, Advent Weekday
So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Luke 1:62–64
Our beautiful story continues as we grow closer to our Christmas Day celebration of the Birth of Christ. Today we once again reflect upon the person of Zechariah, the father of Saint John the Baptist. We recall how God blessed him and Elizabeth with this miraculous pregnancy at an old age after being barren. The Angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah in the temple to reveal this glorious event, but Zechariah received it with disbelief. The result was that he was struck mute until this, the day of his birth.
Today’s Gospel reveals how Zechariah untied the knot of his disbelief. He did so by following the command of the angel to name the child “John.” Traditionally, their first born would be named Zechariah after his father. But God had picked the name “John” and, therefore, both Zechariah and Elizabeth are given the opportunity to embrace and manifest their faith by accepting the name given to their child by God.
In a sense, we can say that Zechariah “righted his wrong.” He righted it by making the choice of faith and acting on it. This is a great witness for all of us because all of us have failed in faith in one way or another. In the case of Zechariah, God punished him severely, stripping away his ability to speak. But what we see today is that this “stripping” of Zechariah’s speech was not done primarily as a punishment, but so that God could manifest His glory through Zechariah’s manifestation of his faith. People are “amazed” at Zechariah as he fulfills this act of faith and names his newborn child “John.” Thus his suffering is now a manifestation of the glory of God!
In all of our lives, we can regularly point to failures of faith. Sometimes, God sees fit to impose a severe “punishment” upon us as a result. We may endure some suffering or hardship for our failure to heed His voice wholeheartedly. But know that any “punishment” from God is not primarily a result of his wrath. Rather, most often the consequences of any lack of faith is permitted by God because He has something greater in mind. In this case, it was so that He could loose the tongue of Zechariah at the proper moment so that he could glorify God with great faith. In our lives, we should look for Him to do the same.
Reflect, today, upon any hardship you have endured as a result of your own weakness, sin or lack of faith. Do not see any hardship as a punishment in the normal sense of that word. Rather, see it as an opportunity through which God is calling you to give Him even greater glory.
Lord, I know I lack faith in my life. I fail to believe all that You speak to me. As a result, I often fail to put Your words into action. Dear Lord, when I suffer as a result of my weakness, help me to know that this and all suffering can result in giving glory to You if I renew my faith. Help me, like Zechariah, to return to You always, and use me as an instrument of Your manifest glory. Jesus, I trust in You.
Zechariah Proclaims His Faith
December 24, Advent Weekday
“You, my child, shall be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:76–79
This song of praise from Zechariah is spoken once his tongue is loosed after manifesting faith in the birth of his son John. And in this particular song of praise, Zechariah gives glory to God as he manifests not only his faith, but also the fruit of his faith: deep, clear, articulate and insightful knowledge of the workings of the Father in Heaven.
Zechariah speaks truths that could only be known by him through the gift of faith. There is little doubt that his long exile of silence, after being struck mute by the Angel Gabriel, resulted in him seeking, hearing and understanding the mystery that was before him. He came to realize that his little child was the one who would prepare the immediate way for the Lord. He came to understand this baby’s singular prophetic role in the salvation of the world. He saw his son as the “dawn” which was to announce the rising Sun.
So much happened to Zechariah in these months of suffering. The Lord worked on him and enabled him to offer this prayer of praise that is sung daily by priests and religious throughout the world. Zechariah truly fulfilled his mission by getting back up on his feet after his fall.
The same must happen with each one of us. It would have been easy for Zechariah to turn to anger and despair. He could have easily lost hope and felt abandoned by God. But he didn’t. He waited on the fidelity of God and, when his time came, he spoke this beautiful and faith-filled song of praise.
Reflect, today, upon how God wants you to imitate the faith and perseverance of Zechariah. It would be easy to look down on him for doubting. But God did not do this. Instead, He gave him a chance to honor Him through the ages with this song. Seek the ways that God also wants to work through your failures of the past. Offer them to Him and trust that He will manifest His almighty power through you as you seek to imitate the example of this holy man.
Lord, I offer You my past and all the ways that I have failed to trust in You. I give You my weakness, my pride and my frustration. I surrender all sin to You and give myself to You completely so that You may do with me as You will. May Your grace be at work in me and may I, like Zechariah, sing forever the glory of Your holy name. Jesus, I trust in You.
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