Gospel Reflection on Matthew 1:18-24

December 21, 2025

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to send her away quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

“Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and his name shall be called Emman′u-el”

(which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife.

---

Most of the time we see the events of our life on a purely biological or physical level of

cause and effect: A causes B, B causes C. And we plan our reaction, our response to these events using the tools and strategies we know best.

We function like Joseph, who is confronted with an impossible situation and is searching for a solution. And he comes up with a variety of solutions. All of which are more or less noble. Joseph's plan is the best he can come up with using all his resources.

But then God takes the initiative and speaks to Joseph's heart in and with a dream.

The dream is an image of a different and infinitely more profound spiritual life.

First, he tells Joseph not to be afraid. Then he invites him to abandon his own plan and follow a new dream. It is at this moment the moment when Joseph sees the seed of God in the depths of this event that he becomes a father and participates in the greatest event in the history of salvation.

This dream of Joseph and the faith stirred up in him tells us that there's always something more, that the loving plan of God is operating in things. In all things, we run the risk of looking at things only on the surface and fail to see the invisible, that which is hidden.

Each one of us can participate in great things when we surrender to the invisible to what we cannot see with our human eyes. A life is pregnant with the plan of God and we must learn to welcome it with a willingness to abandon our own projects and plans. We have to learn how to believe in dreams. In that inner voice it tells us we have a place in God's plan.

Just as the Lord deeded Joseph, he wants to use all of us. We best prepare for Christmas by

opening ourselves to what the Lord wants to do with us.

Jesus always comes in unexpected ways. He was born in circumstances not considered appropriate for a Messiah and right up to his death, he had a form, an outward form that was not recognized and definitely wasn't welcomed to.

We have to believe in that dream that inner voice that tells us we have a place in God's plan

that others might not see or understand. Just as the Lord needed Joseph, he wishes to use all of us. If we welcome the work of God in our lives, it will bring about its fruit.

Joseph named the child an act of naming that was part of his fatherly role, giving the child nobility and identity. We too have the role of telling the new generation that they are salvation, that they are the handy work of God to praise kids, grandkids, nephews, nieces, pointing out their goodness, pointing out their nobility, pointing out wonderful worlds that they can fashion for their neighbors, their sisters and brothers.

To welcome, nourish and protect the work of God: this is what all of us are called to do.

And along the way we remind ourselves, God saves us not in the way we think, but in the way God thinks. According to his wonderful plan of love.