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.”- Matt 1:20-21
God is good, all the time.
Friends: Last week, on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pope Francis issued his latest apostolic letter, Patris corde("With a Father's Heart"), during which he declared a special "Year of St. Joseph," starting December 8, 2020, through 2021. The Pope indicated that it is significant and timely for us "to increase our love for this great saint, to encourage us to implore his intercession and to imitate his virtues and his zeal."
The Pope's description of St. Joseph is striking; he reminds us that Joseph is "beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father; a father who is creatively courageous, a working father, a father in the shadows."
Each of us may possess personal vision and perspective of St. Joseph, and we can describe him accordingly, but in light of today's gospel, one great lesson stands out about him. The lesson is that we must be willing to transform our pain and let go, lest we transmit it to others. The gospel tells us of Joseph’s intention not to advance public accusation against Mary, on learning about her conception. Matthew says, “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.”
Joseph's intention was not only noble, but also showed how he had transformed his pain, disappointment, and anger so that he wouldn't transmit it to Mary and the child to be born. During this Christmas and the whole year of St. Joseph, let us think more positively and well of others and help them to be happier by being kind to them and avoiding any transmitting of our pain, anger, lukewarmness towards them.