GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 18TH DECEMBER 2016
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
1ST READING: Isaiah 7:10-14
PSALM: Psalm 24:1-6
SECOND READING: Romans 1:1-7
GOSPEL: Matthew 1:18-25
THEME: THE SHOCKING DISCOVERY
We sometimes take for granted the leap of faith Joseph had to make when the events leading up to Christmas are recounted during the season of Advent. In our world where some people refuse to accept responsibility for a pregnancy that they clearly had a hand in, Joseph comes on board as a person of deep faith who accepts to take responsibility for a pregnancy that he had no hand whatsoever in. For some of us a physical apparition of one million angels would not be convincing enough to make us take the decision Joseph took.
In ancient Judaism, betrothal was the first part of the covenant of marriage itself constituting a man and a woman as husband and wife. Already in the betrothal state, the couple were considered to be legally married and only death or divorce could terminate the whole process (cf. Deut. 24:1-4).The betrothal period was temporary, lasting up to one year, after which the man takes his wife home and thereafter live together.
It was during that legal relationship of husband and wife, prior to coming to live together that Joseph discovered that Mary was pregnant. It must have been a shocking discovery. In our Gospel text for today, we are told, “Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and wanting to spare her disgrace, decided to divorce her informally” (Mat 1:19). Faith, however, beckoned Joseph to make a leap when an angel appeared to him in a dream. He obeyed, took Mary home as his wife and would later name the child Jesus as revealed by the angel.
In the First Reading, Isaiah had prophesied, “Listen O house of David…Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel” (Isa. 7:13-14). The Joseph factor in the events surrounding the birth of Jesus is important because he belonged to the house of David – a direct descendent of David. Joseph would become the legal foster-father of Jesus and in accordance with Jewish customs, Jesus would receive full hereditary rights through him. Hence, in the Second Reading, Paul confidently refers to Jesus as “descendant of David according to the flesh” (Rom. 1:3).
In the person of Joseph, we can grasp the spirit that ought to pervade our preparation for the forthcoming celebration of the birth of the Saviour. It must be one of faith and yielding to God’s divine plan. Unfortunately, faithless people have hijacked Christmas and have made it a worldly fun fair. The time has come for Christians to recapture the true spirit of Christmas – the celebration of faith.
During the remaining days of the season of Advent, may we all endeavour to engage ourselves in wholesome spiritual activities that will boost our faith and may the tangible expression of this faith bring a renewed understanding of what Christmas is all about.
Prayer: Eternal Father, in the fullness of time, you fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah – a virgin conceived and in the house of David, a saviour was born. May my faith be firm as that of Joseph and may I yield to your divine plan even if my human mind is unable to fully grasp it. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).