When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home. Mt 1:18-24
4th SUNDAY of ADVENT Cycle A
On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, we are given another model to follow in our preparation for Christmas. After Mary and John the Baptist we are presented with the example of Joseph. Joseph in the gospel episode comes as righteous, loving, and obedient.
Joseph was righteous in face of the law. As always following the law, he decided to divorce Mary hearing that she was with child which was not his.
Joseph was loving of Mary. Nonetheless he could not bear seeing Mary stoned to death which was the punishment for adultery. He obeyed the law secretly and divorced Mary quietly.
Joseph was obedient to God. However, when he heard from Gabriel the real story behind Mary’s pregnancy, he changed plans and took Mary as his wife.
Opposite to Joseph, we see the bad example of Ahaz, King of Judah. Ahaz refused alliance with Israel and Syria and instead sided with Assyria. In the face of an attack from Israel and Syria, God through Isaiah advised Ahaz to trust in God instead. But Ahaz refused to obey God. Is 7:10-14
St. Paul in his letter to the Romans wrote on obedience “Through Jesus Christ we have received the grace of apostleship, to bring about the obedience of faith…” Rom 1:1-7
Obedience is another virtue to practice in Advent.
Jesus obeyed His Father and took the form of flesh and became man to save humankind from sin and death.
Mary obeyed angel Gabriel and became Mother of God while remaining a virgin as Isaiah prophesied.
Joseph obeyed God and took Mary as his wife although she bore a child not his own.
For you, what is God’s plan that you still must obey?
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