Today’s Gospel focuses on Joseph, the quiet, steadfast figure who we often call the Foster Father of Jesus. He is sometimes the most overlooked person in the Christmas story, yet his faith and obedience made all the difference.
But how much do we really know about Joseph?
We know that he is a righteous man, compassionate and honorable. He was unwilling to expose Mary to shame, when he learned she was with Child. He planned to divorce her quietly, until an angel visits him in a dream, revealing the divine plan that was unfolding. Though he couldn’t understand it, he trusted God and obeyed.
We know Joseph stood beside Mary in the stable, when Christ was born. He was there when shepherds came to pay homage, and Magi came to honor the newborn King with gifts.
We know Joseph guarded and saved Mary and Jesus from the jealousy and wrath of King Herod, when he took his family and fled to Egypt. Herod heard that a King was to be born in Bethlehem, and fear took hold of his heart. To preserve his power, he sought to destroy the Child – but guided by God, Joseph rose to defend his family.
We know he later brought Mary and Jesus to the Temple, where the holy man, Simeon, immediately recognized the Child as the long-awaited Messiah.
Through every trial, God’s grace was at work in Joseph’s life. He faced human dilemmas – fear, doubt, uncertainty – yet he always chose faith. He always accepted the divinity that was placed before him. Like Mary, Joseph said “yes” to God’s call and became the protector of both the Mother and the Son.
Joseph’s story reminds us that faith is not only about belief, but about response. It calls us to act with trust, even when we don’t fully understand God’s plan. When we say “yes” to God, as Joseph did, we make room for Him to work through us – and we find our place in the greatest story ever told.
Like Joseph, we can experience God as we never have before. We can recognize the coming of the divine into our hearts and call Him Jesus. But only if we invite the Holy Spirit in.
There is no denying that Christmas can lose its meaning. We see it everywhere: Radio City Music Hall performances; decorations and lights on our houses and in our offices; Hallmark Christmas movies on TV; shopping in malls and on Amazon.
There is so much secular sentimentality now attached to Christmas. It’s easy to think of it as simply a holiday from work rather than a season to recognize the greatest gift we have ever received: God’s gift of Himself to us. Christmas is love made visible in the face of Jesus.
So, as you unwrap your gifts this Christmas and gather with your loved ones, take a moment to remember Joseph’s quiet faith. Ask yourself: How is God calling me to trust Him more deeply? How can I say “yes” to His will in my own life?
My friends, may this Christmas fill your heart with the peace that Joseph knew – the peace that comes from trusting God completely.
And may the newborn Christ bless you and your loved ones with joy, hope and faith that lasts far beyond this Christmas season.
