Saint Joseph sleeping

Sisters and brothers in Christ, I recently had to discern something very important. As I prayed the Holy Rosary before the lights of our Advent candles, with the image of the Nativity in the back, I asked the Blessed Mother Mary for her intercession, that I may have clarity and decision. Our Lord led me on a course of action that I did not expect but that brought me great peace, and I never it was of God and from the Holy Spirit, and not anything that I desire.

In today's Gospel, for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Saint Joseph desired to divorce Mary quietly; however, the Holy Spirit, through an angel, guided him on a different path, a holy path, a path that gave Saint Joseph peace in his life. Saint Joseph, of his own freewill still had to come to the decision to follow God's will for him and, fortunately for all of us, Saint Joseph obeyed God.

This Advent season, as you prayed fervently and with a humble and contrite heart, God might have revealed a path for you to follow. I pray that you have the courage to follow whatever path that God revealed to you because it will be a path that will bring hope, a path that will lead you to peace, a path that will fill you with joy, and a path that will reveal to you God's love for you. And, should you have the courage to follow His path for you, you will bring hope, peace, joy, and love to those you encounter in your life, and be the light of Christ in the world.

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Gospel of the Day

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.