Lighting you candle of hope and peace, thinking of Joseph. His future determined as a child betrothed to Mary, Mary a mere teenager returns to Nazareth pregnant from the Holy Spirit, the town begins to whisper. In her heart, she has peace because she knows that the child is the holy one but there is some uncertainty but with her shoulder back and her head held high she faces Joseph. From the scriptures, we know what he planned to do, he loved Mary and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he was going to divorce her quietly. I am sure he had no peace in this decision, however, he did not want the alternative for her, stoning for such sin. Joseph receives a peaceful visitor from an angel, the child is Jesus.
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came aboutd : His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yete did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,f because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”g (which means “God with us”).
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. Matthew 1: 18-24
Beloved, Joseph filled with peace and Mary filled with peace brought the author of peace in the world. How is the reading of Luke going? What about your acts of kindness? I helped a co-worker today. Sorry this is a day late. Day 12 posted soon.
