This Fourth Sunday of Advent invites us to look at how we respond to the challenges of life. As we get closer to the celebration of the birth of Christ, let us learn some lessons from one of the most important characters of that first Christmas morning - who most of the time is forgotten - Joseph.
I'm sure that everyone will agree: none of us gets through life without crisis. All of us have trouble in the course of our lives, big or small. Some people appear to be worry free, always on top of the world, in total control of everything, but only on the surface. We may not know them well, that deep inside them there is a battle that they struggle to fight over. There might be a person who wears a warm smile but beyond the surface there will be much to learn - perhaps there was a shaky marriage, a tragedy of a loved one, or perhaps a business or financial failure, or sometimes just simple boredom at home or work. The truth is, even the most successful, self-assured, and attractive people have burdens to bear. The difference between people is the ability to overcome or defeat the troubles.
This is what we can learn from Joseph in the gospel reading today.There was a crisis - Joseph found out that Mary was with a child and he was not the father. He resolved to do the right thing and God stepped in. He received a new perspective that gave him the determination to do the right thing, and we all know that the rest is history. Joseph was not crushed by the crisis but rather he rose up above it. The lesson here is that in every crisis, in every moment of an important decision, we need to hear God's word, and like Joseph, with faith, respond to it in a life-changing, transformative and redeeming YES to God's Will.
I'm sure that everyone will agree: none of us gets through life without crisis. All of us have trouble in the course of our lives, big or small. Some people appear to be worry free, always on top of the world, in total control of everything, but only on the surface. We may not know them well, that deep inside them there is a battle that they struggle to fight over. There might be a person who wears a warm smile but beyond the surface there will be much to learn - perhaps there was a shaky marriage, a tragedy of a loved one, or perhaps a business or financial failure, or sometimes just simple boredom at home or work. The truth is, even the most successful, self-assured, and attractive people have burdens to bear. The difference between people is the ability to overcome or defeat the troubles.
This is what we can learn from Joseph in the gospel reading today.There was a crisis - Joseph found out that Mary was with a child and he was not the father. He resolved to do the right thing and God stepped in. He received a new perspective that gave him the determination to do the right thing, and we all know that the rest is history. Joseph was not crushed by the crisis but rather he rose up above it. The lesson here is that in every crisis, in every moment of an important decision, we need to hear God's word, and like Joseph, with faith, respond to it in a life-changing, transformative and redeeming YES to God's Will.
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