GOD IS PRESENT IN THE JOURNEY
In today’s Gospel, Joseph faces an unimaginable challenge: Mary, to whom he is betrothed, is with child, and the child is not his. By all human understanding, the situation appears irredeemable. Yet, in a dream, an angel speaks to Joseph, saying, “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.” Joseph’s response is extraordinary—he sets aside fear, pride, and societal expectations. In quiet obedience, he embraces God’s plan, caring for Mary and the child who will be Emmanuel, “God with us.”
Joseph’s journey of faith calls to mind the courage and trust my mother displayed during our escape from Vietnam in a tiny fishing boat. Faced with the dangers of the South China Sea, she found courage and hope in God to keep us safe and deliver us to a better life. Her gentle reassurance to my sister and me —"Đừng sợ." (Do not be afraid)— when pirates were spotted, echoes the angel’s words to Joseph. In those perilous moments, her quiet prayers became a lifeline of hope, a sign of her trust in God’s providence.
Joseph in today’s gospel reminds us that faith rooted in the belief that God is present even in the darkest of times transcends fear. His hope was not in his circumstances but in the promise of God’s steadfast love and guidance. True hope arises when we surrender to God’s will. Faith gives us the courage to move forward, even when the path is unclear.
Lord, grant me the courage to trust in your divine plan knowing your promises never fail.
Kath Tran