Joseph’s Annunciation

Gospel: Mt 1:18-25
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121824.cfm

Sometimes things aren’t always what they seem. We are quick to make assumptions about others and things. We have narratives that we tell about ourselves, and people in our lives are characters we put into these stories. We justify the actions of some as we judge them to be good people, and we do not excuse the actions of others because we judge them to be bad. Yes, some people do very heinous things and some people do very good things, but what one person does in one moment is not the sum of who they are. We are quick to make assumptions about events and things given what we believe we know about the circumstances and the people involved. Even a broken clock is accurate twice a date.

In today’s gospel, we learn about how Joseph reacted when he found out Mary was pregnant. Of course, her pregnancy was a one time in a history event. Once he learned about it, he was quick to come up with a plan that would be respectful of her, but also get him out of the marriage. It took a visit from an angel to get him past it and accept it.

This miracle that happened to Mary and Joseph is for all of us. It had to be different for them experiencing it firsthand than what can fully fathom. We have these bible stories as narratives that we tell each other as well and interpret the world through what we believe about them. If we can believe in the miracle of the virgin birth and that God would come to be with us and take human form, what other miracles are possible? Can someone else go beyond the limits we’ve put upon them? Can we go beyond the limits we have put upon ourselves? Can we open our minds and hearts to see the divinity in others we’ve put down? Can we see the humanity in those we’ve raised up?

Help us to see the world and others as you see them, not as we want to see them. Amen.