In today's Gospel, we learn about how Joseph placed his trust in God and accepted the Virgin Mary as his wife, even though he knew she was with a child that wasn't his.
Come Holy Spirit, fill our hearts and our minds. Fill us with your peace, love, and understanding. Help us to hear God's message today and recognize His voice in our daily activities. Amen
One day, a man named Joseph was getting ready to marry a kind and gentle woman named Mary. But then Joseph learned something surprising—Mary was going to have a baby! Joseph didn’t understand what was happening, and he felt worried.
That night, while Joseph was sleeping, an angel from God came to him in a dream. The angel said:
“Joseph, don’t be afraid! Mary’s baby is very special. The baby is from God’s Holy Spirit. Mary will have a son, and you will name him Jesus, because he will save people from their sins.”
When Joseph woke up, he remembered the angel’s words. He trusted God and did what the angel told him. Joseph married Mary and took care of her and the baby. Just like the angel said, the baby’s name was Jesus.
Key Message for Kids:
God had a special plan for Mary and Joseph. Even when things seemed confusing, Joseph listened to God and trusted Him. We can trust God too, because He loves us and has good plans for us.
Source: Saddleback Kids. (2015). The Plan for Jesus' Birth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1yOY62GFKU
Say to the group: There are many ways in which we are called to trust other people, and we hope that we will grow to be people who are worthy of trust. What activities in your life require that you trust other people? (Help the group think of examples such as trusting parents to care for them, trusting that their rides to activities will arrive on time, trusting teachers to teach them well, and so on.)
Say: In today's Gospel Reading, we hear the story of how God sends a message to Joseph in a dream and asks Joseph to trust in God's plan. Let's listen to this Gospel. Invite a volunteer to read Matthew 1:18-24.
Ask the group: Do you think it was easy for Joseph to trust God and God's messenger? Why or why not? In what ways are we called to trust God in our lives today? Is this an easy or difficult thing for you? Why?
Say: Joseph is a model for us of what it means to trust God. Let us pray as we celebrate Christmas this week that we will always be people who trust God.
Pray together today's Psalm, or sing an Advent song, such as “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”
1. Who were the two main people in this story?
Mary and Joseph.
2. Why was Joseph worried at first?
Because Mary was going to have a baby, and he didn’t understand what was happening.
3. Who came to Joseph in a dream?
An angel from God.
4. What did the angel tell Joseph to do?
The angel told Joseph not to be afraid, to marry Mary, and to name the baby Jesus.
5. Why is the baby’s name Jesus so important?
Because Jesus would save people from their sins.
6. What did Joseph do after he woke up?
He listened to God and did what the angel said—he married Mary and cared for her and the baby.
7. What can we learn from Joseph in this story?
We can learn to trust God and listen to Him, even when things seem confusing.
Father in heaven, for the sake of bringing others closer to you, we give you today, all that we think and do and say, and we join it with all that was done by Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen
