“What is this wealth of goodness? What is this mystery that touches me? I received the divine image and I did not keep it. He receives my flesh to save the image and grant immortality to the flesh. This, his second communion with us, is far more marvelous than the first.”
READ: MATTHEW 1:18–25
This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a man of honor and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.”
Now all this took place to fulfill the words spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him Emmanuel, a name which means ‘God-is-with-us.’ ” When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to his home and, though he had not had intercourse with her, she gave birth to a son; and he named him Jesus.
YOUR THREE-STEP GUIDE TO DAILY MENTAL PRAYER
REFLECT
God is all powerful, and He could have saved us in any number of ways. He chose the Incarnation: becoming one of us. Such an uncomfortable choice — at least, it certainly upset Joseph’s plans. But God is not obliged to act within the parameters of our personal comfort zones. He has said as much Himself: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, my thoughts higher than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:9, NABRE). Joseph finds his betrothed pregnant. He knows her virtue and can’t imagine what happened. It seems she is not free to tell him, or if she does tell him, he finds it hard to accept, so Mary has to trust that God will work it out. After a period of anxiety and confusion, an angel appears, only to give Joseph some short-term instructions. Why didn’t God simply explain it all beforehand — send a letter with the whole plan mapped out step by step? Why did the ancient prophecies leave so much room for interpretation? God is the Lord; He acts according to His own wisdom and love, and we follow Him “by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7, NABRE). If at times following the Lord was uncomfortable even for Joseph and Mary, we can expect nothing less for ourselves.
RESPOND
Many times I resent when my plans are foiled and my hopes left unfulfilled. When You throw me curve balls, I get nervous, or angry, or doubtful. And yet I know that You are always guiding me with Your infinite wisdom. Teach me to discover Your will in the midst of life’s ups and downs and to be docile, like Joseph and Mary. Thy Kingdom come, Lord — not mine.
REST
So often I depend almost entirely on my own talents and strength to succeed. And yet here You are, teaching me by Your quiet coming to earth, that when it comes to the only success that really matters, success as a human being, as a child of God, I am helpless! I need You, Lord, to be my Savior. I need Your love and Your grace to give meaning and direction to my life. Grant me success, Lord, the kind that lasts forever.
RESOLVE
How can I carry this encounter with me into the day? (Write / Journal)
CLOSING PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Most Blessed and Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank You for Your love and Your grace in allowing me this time of prayer with You.
The world, the flesh, and the devil will all propose things I should focus on and run after today. I beg You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me instead to know and embrace Your will. Help me to see what You desire of me each moment of this day. Give me the wisdom, strength, and fortitude I need to avoid distractions, discern Your will, and focus on and carry out that which Wisdom reveals. Help me to work and live at a pace of peace and prayerfulness, always attentive to You, able to hear Your voice and to say no to anything that hinders my journey to You and a complete yes to every Holy prompting from You.
Help me to humbly and purposefully live, light, and lead others to the path of union with You and to tell everyone about this way of life. Amen.
About the Author
Fr. John Bartunek was ordained in 2003. He has taught moral theology at various ecclesiastical institutions at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and has authored many books, including the Gospel companion, The Better Part, and Inside the Passion, the only authorized behind-the-scenes look at the film, for which he provided on-set spiritual support. His online retreat guides are available in multiple formats at RCSpirituality.org. Fr. John currently resides in Atlanta, where he is serving as territorial vicar for the Legionaries of Christ.
