＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

２samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16

But that very night, Yahweh’s word came to Nathan,

“Go and tell my servant David, this is what Yahweh says: Are you able to build a house for me to live in? When the time comes for you to rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your son after you, the one born of you and I will make his reign secure.

He shall build a house for my name and I will firmly establish his kingship forever. I will be a father to him and he shall be my son. If he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod, as men do. Your house and your reign shall last forever before me, and your throne shall be forever firm.”

 

Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 & 29

The son of David will live for ever.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a (or Luke 2:41-51a)

Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and from her came Jesus who is called the Christ ­– the Messiah.  This is how Jesus Christ was born. Mary his mother had been given to Joseph in marriage but before they lived together, she was found to be preg­nant through the Holy Spirit.

 Then Joseph, her husband, made plans to divorce her in all secrecy. He was an upright man, and in no way did he want to discredit her.  While he was pondering over this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.

She has conceived by the Holy Spirit, and now she will bear a son. You shall call him ‘Jesus’ for he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do and he took his wife to his home.

 

Gospel Reflection：

The role of Joseph in the plan of salvation is very important. It was prophesied that the Messiah would be from the stock of David. Mary belongs to the clan of Levites. Hence she could not provide the Davidic lineage to Jesus.

Joseph comes from the House of David. That is why he returned to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David during the census ordered by Quirinius, the governor of Syria.

The plan of God would have been jeopardized had he not consented to be the foster father of the Lord when He became . Man. Joseph is a man of few words. Yet he has done much for the plan of God to succeed. May we be like him who silently work for the kingdom to be realized here on earth soon.