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Home Matthew 1:18-24 NRSVue

Matthew 1:18-24 NRSVue

18Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. 20But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

23“Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,”

which means, “God is with us.”

24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)

“Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.”

Some thoughts on this scripture

Reflection
When God breaks in to human affairs it causes surprises and not a little initial upset.

Reflection
What must Joseph's first reaction have been? How could he have known what mysteries were afoot? Can I follow in imagination the steps he must have gone through before humbly accommodating himself to God's plans?

Reflection
What does this reality of God's "breaking in" say to my life and experience?

Reflection
What do we know about St Joseph? That he loved Mary so much that he suppressed his doubts about her chastity to allow himself to be regarded as the father of her child, knowing that he wasn’t; that he brought up that child as his own, despite great difficulties and dangers, particularly at the start; that he taught him his trade; that he loved him; and that Jesus’ virile health as an adult is proof of good parenting by his foster-father. Joseph is the obvious patron of adoptive fathers.

Reflection
When God breaks in to human affairs it causes surprises and not a little initial upset.

Reflection
What must Joseph's first reaction have been? How could he have known what mysteries were afoot? Can I follow in imagination the steps he must have gone through before humbly accommodating himself to God's plans?