A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 1:18-23)
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.”
Matthew describes the events leading up to Jesus’ birth from Joseph’s point of view. Aware that Mary is pregnant, Joseph plans to divorce her quietly rather than expose her to public shame. But God communicates a different plan to Joseph through an angel, telling him: “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.” God breaks through all of the boundaries in which Joseph existed and acted—societal, moral, and spiritual—to allow him to choose to take Mary into his home and to adopt Jesus, Emmanuel, as his son.
Father in heaven, help me reflect throughout the day on the birth of Mary, Mother of God. Through the Holy Spirit, Mary gave birth to the incarnate Word, God made man. Give me the grace, like Mary, to proclaim your greatness and rejoice in you, who are alive and active in the world to come to our aid. Help me remember to let you work through me today beyond the ordinary scope of what I hope to accomplish. In her Magnificat, Mary said: “the Almighty has done great things for me.” Let me be grateful for the promise of your mercy and all your good gifts.
From the Gospel acclamation: “Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, deserving of all praise; from you rose the sun of justice, Christ our God.” Blessed Virgin Mary, hope and daybreak of salvation, show us the way to your Son.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.