2 Samuel 7; Psalm 89; Romans 4: 13, 16-18, 22; Matthew 1: 16, 18-21, 24
The readings point to Jesus as son of David, son of Abraham, and finally son of Joseph. Matthew traces Jesus’ genealogy back to Abraham, and our gospel today opens with Joseph as the one who passes on the lineage. In Matthew today we have the “Annunciation” as made to Joseph; on March 25, we will hear Luke tell of the angel coming to Mary. Joseph is merely told that what has been conceived in her is “of the Holy Spirit” whereas Mary will be told that the baby is the Son of God. And what difference does all this make to our life with God? Joseph is alert to dreams and obedient to its message. In Matthew, Mary is a good Jewish wife, obedient to her husband.
What message (s) have you received in a dream? How did you treat it? When someone shares a dream or a religious experience with you (as Joseph must have with Mary, especially the dream in which he is told to disrupt their life and go into Egypt), how have you responded? Ask for the grace to pay attention to dreams and intuitions.
Holy Spirit, you pray always within us, putting our unutterable groanings into words that God can understand. Help us to trust what you send up to us while we sleep.
