WHAT SHOULD JOSEPH DO, THEN? December 21, 2025

Today’s Gospel brings St. Joseph into our Advent picture. He is the last of King David’s descendants from whom the Redeemer had long ago been promised by the Prophets. Let us look at what is happening: Our Lady and Joseph are betrothed, which, to use our own words, means more than “engaged”, but less than “married”. They are truly husband and wife in Jewish law but not yet living together. So, when Mary is found to be pregnant what should Joseph do?

     He is described by St. Matthew as “a just man”. He does not want to cause Mary harmful publicity and shame, because he already knows enough about her to be morally sure that she has not been unfaithful to him. Then why should he think of “putting her away secretly”? We can only assume that Joseph was unsure what God wanted of him at this delicate stage in his relationship with his young wife. Maybe after much careful reflection and prayer he came to the conclusion that God would not want him to “pretend” to be the Father of the child his wife was carrying.

     It is at this point that God intervenes. Just as He had sent Gabriel to announce His will to Mary, so now He sends another angel to Joseph in a dream to convince him that all that has happened to Mary is part of God’s own plan, and that Joseph’s part in this plan is precisely to take Mary as his wife, and her child as his own, and to name the boy “Jesus” - a name which means “God saves (His people)”. In the first reading the prophet Isaiah also speaks of another name indicating the Redeemer’s role of uniting God and His people: Emmanuel -"God is with us”.        

Together with Fr Rafal, Deacon George, Deacon Oliver

and the parish staff, I wish you and yours a blessed Christmas

        and every good wish in the year to come.    ~  Fr. Paul Dobson.