FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT, DECEMBER 21, 2025

‘The Dream of St. Joseph’ by Luca Giordano, c. 1700

MASS READINGS

Gospel Matthew 1:18-24

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 conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means "God is with us."

When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

REFLECTION

"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid"

All of today's readings focus on a virgin that will conceive a child. And then the Gospel takes a segue and tells us about St. Joseph and his reaction when he found our his betrothed, Mary, was pregnant.

The Gospel also says that St. Joseph was "a just man". If he would've had a inkling of suspicion of unfaithfulness, then the just thing to do would had been to have Mary stoned to death, or worst, burned alive.

The reading is not saying he suspected her of unfaithfulness. In fact, St. Thomas Aquinas (and St. Jerome, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, and Origen), theorized (Reverence Theory), that St. Joseph knew Mary had conceived by the Holy Spirit and felt unworthy of being their guardian.

Pope St. John Paul II has a great Apostolic Exhortation called Redemptoris Custos, where he explains to us the great role of St. Joseph in the history of salvation. And how he quietly and humbly protected Mary and Joseph, making it possible for Jesus to grow in a holy family and be our savior. He also tells us about how important St. Joseph is for protecting the Church today. If any, think about it, since Pope Pius IX named St. Joseph as "Patron of the Holy Catholic Church", how many great and saintly Popes we've had: Leo XIII, St. Pius X, Ven. Pius XII, St. John XXIII, St. Paul VI, St. John Paul II, Benedict XVI...

A few years ago, our spiritual director, Father Michael, gave a great retreat about St. Joseph, where he explained to us what it meant to be "a just man" in the Jewish tradition, and the importance of St. Joseph in the history of salvation. And the importance of St. Joseph in our lives today. Ask us if you'd like to know more about this great teaching.

Let us think about St. Joseph's quiet service and protection to the Holy Family and the Catholic Church. And ask him to keep us focused in the true meaning of the upcoming Incarnation of our Savior. And join us in March to our consecration to St. Joseph on his feast day.

Have a joyful Advent! God bless y'all!

Sancte Joseph, ora pro nobis.