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This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill
what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us.”
Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. The full readings of the day from the Lectionary are available here.
Saint Joseph was afraid. At the beginning of this summer, I was also afraid. Our fearfulness stemmed from places of uncertainty about the future. In this gospel, Joseph is being asked to take the vulnerable, pregnant Mother of Jesus into his home. This summer, I worked in a respite hospital for medically fragile children.
Families totally entrusted us with their severely disabled children in this home-like hospital. How could I worthily care for such precious children? How would I possibly begin to fill the role of their caregiver during the children’s week-long stays? Both Saint Joseph and I were gifted God’s most vulnerable children to take care of on a daily basis.
Just like Saint Joseph cared for Jesus, I bathed the children, fed them, played with them, and learned to communicate with them through ways beyond mere words.
As time went on, however, my fear dissolved and was replaced with a supernatural lens through which I saw Christ through them. I was no longer afraid, as Christ was with me. And this is what the gospel tells us today: “Do not be afraid.” God assures us that He is “with us.” These two simple phrases carry profound meaning and consistently surface throughout the Bible. In fact, “Do not be afraid” appears in the Bible 365 times. Is that a coincidence, given that a year is 365 days long? We need not be afraid of anything, for God is with us.
Saint Joseph perfectly exemplified how to combat fear in our daily lives. He took the Blessed Mother into his home to protect and care for her. Not only was Joseph tasked with caring for the Mother of God, but also God’s only begotten Son as well. God was literally and physically with Joseph, daily from that day onward.
Let us pray today for a stronger resolution to notice the times throughout our day when God is with us. Let us turn to our Lord whenever we may experience fear or anxiety of the future, asking Saint Joseph to intercede for us.
Lord Jesus, the angel assured the loyal and faithful Joseph that the mother-to-be and her child, placed in his loving care, are our salvation. We thank you for the gift of your Son, of Our Blessed Mother, and of Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse. We ask only that we can share in some way the love, respect, and faith of the Holy Family. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.
A PODCAST BY FAITH ND
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Fr. Mark Poorman, CSC
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Bobby Kloska
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Sr. Mariana Koonce, RSM
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Kristin Komyatte Sheehan
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Tim and Ryan O’Neill
Share in the music and story of The O’Neill Brothers, who have touched many lives through their talents on the piano as well as more recently by establishing a family foundation.
Laura Kelly Fanucci
We next share the story of Laura Kelly Fanucci ’03, a Catholic author whose joy shines even through moments of deep suffering, giving witness to an integrated life of love and compassion for others.
Dr. Craig Humphreys
Travel from Alaska to Africa with Dr. Craig Humphreys ’86 as he describes finding God in nature, the love of his family, and the people he has served around the world.
Fr. Joe Carey, CSC
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Prof. Margaret Pfeil
Season 11 concludes with Prof. Margaret Pfeil, including her long-time commitments of living at the local Catholic Worker community, advocating for peace, and seeking justice for all of God’s people.
Fr. Lou DelFra, CSC
Fr. Lou DelFra, CSC, shares the moments that eventually led him to a vocation in religious life and priesthood, along with a specific ministry of forming aspiring Catholic teachers.
Avis Boyd
We continue this season with Avis Boyd, a longtime volunteer and alumna of Notre Dame, as she shares her perspective on moving through life with purpose, conviction, and a deep faith, even in the face of adversity.
Tim and Lindsay Will
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Dr. Andrew McShane
Hear the story of Dr. Andrew McShane, Director of the Notre Dame Liturgical Choir, as he reflects on a vocation that took shape over time through beautiful music, unexpected loss, and the lasting example of others.
Nan Tulchinsky
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Bishop Bob Lombardo, CFR
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We welcome you to submit your prayers for yourself and others. A volunteer will offer them on your behalf at the Grotto, where a candle representing all prayer requests remains perpetually lit.
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