Sunday Dec. 17 - SEASON OF ANNOUNCEMENT: REVELATION TO JOSEPH

This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles — for surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me by the working of his power. Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him. I pray therefore that you may not lose heart over my sufferings for you; they are your glory. Praise be to God always!

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus. This is the truth. Peace be with you.

This Sunday takes us back to the Mystery of the Virgin who bore the Son of God incarnated with the power of the Holy Spirit. God has revealed this Mystery to Joseph, her fiancé, and He gave him the responsibility to adopt her child so that God’s promise might be fulfilled with the Prophecy of Isaiah on the Virgin and the Prophecy of Nathan on Christ who would come from the descendants of the King David.

The first reading: Ephesians 3:1-13
The Apostle Paul emphasizes two things:
1- The revelation of the Mystery of Christ to Paul as it was revealed in the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets.
2- The role of Paul in proclaiming this Mystery to the Gentiles. The Mystery is God’s plan of Salvation to all people which was kept hidden through all the ages in God until it had been revealed in Jesus Christ.

The readings of the week were chosen from the letter to the Romans (10-12):
After the negative picture describing the suffering of the people of the Torah who rejected his Christ, the Apostle draws a positive picture describing the salvation of the people of Israel after repentance & Faith. The faithfulness of God will win over the people’s betrayal in three clear manners:
1- God did not reject His people,
2- The people did not stumble to fail forever,
3- The revelation of a future Mystery that prophesies the salvation of Israel.

This revelation to Joseph in Matthew completes the Annunciation to the Virgin in Luke. Mary, betrothed to Joseph, was still in her parents’ house when the Angel announced to her the divine child. She went quickly to visit her cousin Elizabeth. She stayed there for 3 months. Then, she came back to Nazareth and her pregnancy was revealed. Joseph did not know about her secret. He did not want to be suspicious, neither to complain. His righteousness did not allow him to take her to his house with her child. There was no other solution than to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when God intervened, revealing to him the Mystery of the Virgin and her unborn child, confirming the virginity of Mary and encouraging Joseph to become the legal father of Jesus.

The readings of the week were chosen from John 7, where an argument had taken place about Jesus, his teaching, his identity, and ancestry (from the house of David, from Bethlehem, from Galilee).
Thus, the Sunday of the revelation to Joseph takes us to the Mystery of Emmanuel, God with us, incarnated from the Virgin Mary, in our human history.

REVELATION TO JOSEPH
Reflections by Fr. Antonio Elfeghali

This Sunday is the Revelation to Joseph Sunday. The truth is revealed to Joseph after doubts concerning his beloved Mary. Joseph was in front of a great Mystery (the Virgin is with child) and a great vocation (to become a father of the Son of the Father in Heaven).

We learn 7 things from Joseph:

1- The Righteous man: Joseph was a righteous man, committed to God’s commandments. He had no fear or shame of his commitment. Joseph is an example to every man: Do not be afraid to be a man of prayer, in union with God, surrendered completely to God’s Will, avoiding evil and doing good.

2- The pure love: Joseph had a pure & honest love towards Mary. His love was not controlling. He respected her. A controlling love leads to despair, illusion, envy, and in some cases to crime. There are many people in this world who are stuck on the road because of their controlling love. They love the other for selfish reasons.

3- No exposure to the public: Joseph did not want to expose Mary to public disgrace. It was very easy to Joseph to bring his fiance to the priests where she would be condemned to death.
When our partner, our wife, our husband, our girlfriend, our boyfriend, our neighbor, our brother, etc... relapses or fails, sometimes we are too quick to judge. We emphasize his/her sin and we make his/her story the discussion of the day. The Church teaches that talebearing destroys our neighbor’s honor. It is a sin against justice & charity.

4- He planned to dismiss her quietly: Joseph did not surrender to the feeling of being betrayed or to the love of vengeance.

5- The openness & listening to God’s revelation: Joseph was opened to God’s explanation of what was going on. He listened to what the Angel told him in the dream. With his openness, Joseph understood the Mystery of the Virgin and his Vocation.

6- No suspicions: When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him. Love believes everything.

7- Welcoming Mary & Jesus: The Angel said to Joseph, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary to your house.” Joseph welcomed Mary & Jesus in his house. That’s what we can learn from Joseph, to take Mary & Jesus to our hearts, family, life.

A reading from St. Ephrem the Syrian:

Joseph had loved the Son as a child and he served him as a god. He rejoiced in him as he rejoices in the Good One and he feared him as a righteous. How amazing?

Joseph says, “Who gives me this grace that the Son of the almighty be my son. I suspected your mother and planned to dismiss her. I did not know that in her womb was hidden a great treasure that enriched my poverty.