Joseph's Dream

This upcoming Sunday's Gospel reading is from Matt 1:18-24 - Joseph's Dream. It can be found here. Please read the Gospel reading before reading the rest of this post.

It has been Advent for the last 2 weeks. I am not sure about you, but it hasn't completely felt like Advent for me, and that is not because their isn't any snow on the ground. It is because I haven't put forth the effort to really bring Christ into my life this season. This is a sad reality as we all are supposed to be preparing our hearts to receive the Christ-child very soon. What an awesome gift that has been given to us, but rarely do we take the time to realize the immensity of this gift.

While I was thinking about what I should write for this post, I read this upcoming Sunday's Gospel. The Gospel reading is about the Lord appearing to Joseph in a dream. I am sure many of us get distracted by everything else that goes on during the "Christmas Season," but I know with myself, whenever I think of Advent I usually think of Mary and Jesus. Does Joseph even come to our minds, when the words Advent and Christmas are mentioned? Many times St. Joseph is forgotten about. I suppose that is due to the high emphasis of a devotion to Mary in the Church today. We must not forget about St. Joseph and what he has done.



The Gospel reading is all about Joseph. He may not have bore the Son of God, but if he never accepted Mary into his home, taking her as his wife, even though she was with child, would the Son of God ever have been born? If Joseph decided to forsake Mary, then there could have been a chance that she would have been stoned to death, even if Joseph tried to divorce her quietly. Joseph trusted the Lord when the Lord said: "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home." Joseph trusted and did what the Lord had commanded of him.

As we prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord, we need to look to Joseph as our role model. We are called by God to accept Mary as our Mother and to receive Jesus in our hearts. Everyday we have many opportunities to run to Mary, our Mother, and humbly ask her to bring us to her Son. Do we do this? I know for myself, this is not something I regularly do. I think I am able to do all things through myself, rather "I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me" (Phil 4:13). Instead of coming to the Lord and asking for the strength and mercy that is required to live a life devoted to God, we at times forsake him. Who are we to forsake the Christ-child? He is not merely a child, but the Son of God, who even as an infant is holding the whole world in his hands. At his command all creation will bend their knees. This is no weak and powerless infant, but we think we can do a better job in our lives than Christ can. 


St. Joseph realized the power of the Lord and obeyed. He did not remain stubborn in front of the Lord, but he surrendered himself to the will of Almighty. This Gospel reading is not only placed on the 4th Sunday of Advent to remind us of Joseph's role in the coming of Christ, it also serves to show us that we are called to follow Joseph in his trust and surrender. The Christ-child is coming whether we are prepared or not. When the Christ-child comes in all his splendor and might, let us not be the ones who forsake him. It is one thing to go to Mass on Christmas Eve or Day and receive Jesus on our lips. It is entirely something different if we come to Mass humbly and willingly surrender ourselves to the Lord, so that when we receive Jesus' Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity on our lips, we also are able to receive him into our hearts. It is just me, but I would much rather surrender and receive Jesus into my heart, just as Joseph surrendered to the Lord. Do not forsake the Lord, he will never forsake you; "It is the Lord who goes before you; he will be with you, he will not fail you or forsake you" (Dt 31:8).


Pray daily, read Scripture often, love always.