The Reading: Matthew 1:18-25ã
18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah* took place in this way. When
his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she
was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19Her husband
Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace,
planned to dismiss her quietly. 20But just when he had resolved
to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph,
son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child
conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a
son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their
sins.’ 22All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by
the Lord through the prophet:
23 ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel’,
which means, ‘God is with us.’ 24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son;* and he named him Jesus.
23 ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel’,
which means, ‘God is with us.’ 24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son;* and he named him Jesus.
Questions for Reflection
Ancient Palestinian culture was based strongly on the
honor-shame system. In obeying the
angel, Joseph was bringing shame on himself and his family. Incurring shame was one of the worst things
he could do in his culture. How do you
think Joseph felt as he made this decision?
Have you ever done something that you believed to be right, even if you
knew that others around you might not understand or support your decision?
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