Thursday after Rorate coeli, The Fourth Sunday in Advent
Posted on December 22, 2022 by under
Scripture: St. Matthew 1:18-24 (NKJV)
1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife.
Devotion
Earlier this week we saw how the mother of our Lord was obedient and magnified the Lord in her being made the Theotokos, or Mother of God. Today, we see that St. Joseph, the guardian of our Lord, was a just man and obedient to the Lord.
Even when Joseph encountered what could have been seen as unfaithfulness in his betrothed wife, he did not wish for her to be made a public example. This tells us that Joseph honored the 8th Commandment and was not given to anger. This alone cannot save, but it shows where Joseph’s priorities were, even before the angel came to him.
As we prepare for the celebration of the Nativity of our Lord, we are reminded that parents are a blessing to their children, and they should walk in the ways of the Lord. Joseph did not depend on his own understanding, but believed God’s Word about who the babe in Mary’s womb was and what that babe would bring. May all Christian parents do likewise by the working of the Holy Ghost, through faith alone in Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Stir up, Lord, we beseech Thee, Thy power, and come, and with great might succor us, that by the help of Thy grace whatsoever is hindered by our sins may be speedily accomplished, through Thy mercy and satisfaction; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
