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
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.
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.”
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4PfxXa2LdQ (accredited to Catholic Kids Media)
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
