FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT, December 18, 2022
(Isaiah 7:10-14; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-24)
We all know that actions speak louder than words. No one in
history exemplifies this adage more than Saint Joseph. In the gospels he does
not say a single word. However, his actions have facilitated the coming of the
Savior to the world.
The Gospel according to Saint Matthew presents Saint Joseph
as a "righteous man". He is righteous because he not only knows God's
law but also its purpose and because he lives it. He knows that the law is to
form the person in the ways of God. The Pharisees also know the law, but they
manipulate it for their own benefit. Saint Oscar Romero once said: “The law is
like a snake; it only stings those with bare feet.” In the gospels the Pharisees use the law to exploit
the poor.
Joseph is living the law even when he thinks of divorcing
María. The two have contracted marriage but have not lived together. So when Joseph
finds out that Maria is pregnant, he knows that he did not father the baby.
Because it is possible that there was adultery, Joseph wants to take advantage
of the part of the law that allows divorce. In this way he would show respect
for the institution of marriage. But he would do it "in secret," that
is, without a trial. Once again, Joseph shows himself to be righteous. If a trial discovered that it was not
adultery but rape, Maria would be unnecessarily subjected to public
disapproval.
When the angel appears to him, Joseph continues to show
himself as righteous. He does not delay for a moment to fulfill God’s will. He
takes Mary to her house, and when her baby is born, he names it
"Jesus." To understand the significance of these acts, we need to
know something of the customs of first century Judaism. At that time the man
who names the child was considered the legal father of the child. It is important
that Joseph of David's lineage named the son of Mary so that he too is a
descendant of David, Israel's greatest king. In the Old Testament God promised
David that he would have a descendant whose kingdom would last forever. Now
Jesus can assume this office.
The name "Jesus" also has transcendent meaning. It
means, "The Lord saves." It is appropriate for Jesus because he is
going to save not only his people but also the whole world from sin. Matthew
gives us an indication of this universal salvation when the wise men come from
afar to adore the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. At the end of the gospel, Jesus will
send his apostles throughout the earth to announce salvation in Christ Jesus.
But another, even more important name is given to Jesus, and
it also has to do with his lineage. In the first reading Isaiah tells the king
of Judah: “Listen, O house of David! ... the virgin shall conceive bear a son
and shall name him Emmanuel, that is, “God with us ”. This prophecy is fulfilled
in Jesus in two ways. First, Mary conceives and gives birth to Jesus as a
virgin. Jesus is also conceived by the action of the Holy Spirit who will
always remain with him.
Meditating on the story of Jesus’ origins, we may wonder why
we preoccupy ourselves with gifts and parties during this Advent season. Saint
Matthew shows God's love for us not only by sending his son to us, but by
something else almost as wonderful. Through Jesus Christ himself, God makes it
possible for us to be even more righteous than Saint Joseph. We have the
teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount to guide us. Even more important,
Jesus has shared the Holy Spirit with us so that we always live his goodness
and love.
