Humbly submit your will to God (Thy Will be done) and consecrate yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through Mary.

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.  MT 1:18-24

Today’s meditation will be based on the knowledge I have been reading in the book, “The Mystery of St. Joseph” by Fr. Marie-Dominique Philippe, OP.  Today’s Gospel is Joseph’s annunciation.  God comes to Joseph through a messenger, an angel, to announce the birth of His Son, Jesus, to Joseph. Mary was in deep contemplation, alone, when God came to her through the angel Gabirel.  Mary consecrated herself to God totally and completely.

 Interestingly, Joseph was not with her.  This was to be the will of God for Mary.  Today, we turn to Joseph and how God called him.  Joseph had to be in extreme worry and anxiety.  Mary had shared her secret with Joseph. She was pregnant.  They had no relations.  Joseph could have thought her to be lying.  It would be difficult to believe that the Holy Spirit put the Son of Man in her womb.  Joseph was a “righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.”  Joseph knew the Scriptures well and spent much time in quiet contemplation with God adoring Him.  

He brought himself before God humbly many times.  Joseph’s annunciation comes in a form of a dream, “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.”

Joseph consecrates himself to Mary and to God by doing what the angel asked him.  He took Mary to be his wife and took her into his home.  God wanted Joseph and Mary to be husband and wife to bring up His Son in a family.  Mary and Joseph were consecrated to God, they never had relations. Just like anyone who consecrates themselves to God, they fix their gaze on God by giving up their life and take vows of celibacy, obedience, and chastity.  Mary and Joseph perfected these vows.

Last, not one word is spoken by Joseph and we know nothing about him in the Scriptures after Jesus is lost in the Temple. He is silent and lives a very hidden life in the Scriptures.  Quite the opposite of today’s world of noise, entertaining ourselves to death with electronics, and constant selfies. It is all about awards, accomplishments, and me.  God teaches us 3 important lessons through Mary and Joseph, chastity-a pure heart, is not bad and is intended for us to live in the single life, married life, priesthood, and consecrated life for those with a pure heart will see the face of God.

Second, silence is good not scary or bad.  It is where we discover God in the distractions of the world.  It is where we find our purpose, who God is and who we are.  We are all called like Mary and Joseph to do God’s will. Have you been listening each day in silence, in the state of grace, to God’s Will.  He died to reveal it to you in a personal relationship with Him.  Third, God’s plan of salvation came through a mother and father for His Son to grow up with to gain wisdom, a model of hard work, and worship.  The world always needs mothers and fathers to model Mary and Joseph for their children.  Ask God to help you to fulfill this great responsibility. When we fail, everyone pays the price.

Today’s challenge: Pray, stay in the state of grace through the sacraments, fight Satan, grow in holiness, stay chaste in whatever state of life your are in, and listen to the will of God.  If we do not, one piece of the puzzle that God created is missing.  Your life matters!  Allow God to reveal to you how He wants you to experience the greatest joy in this life and the next!  The world needs great families!

Be a servant, become a saint!
#Christian YOLO