December 21, 2025 Matthew 1: 18-24 In a few days we will be celebrating the Feast of Christmas. The word of God for this Fourth Sunday of Advent helps us to understand the origin of the birth of Jesus. The Gospel shows us how Jesus entered the world. St. Matthew initially paints a general picture beginning with his parents, Mary and Joseph. “Mary, his mother, was promised in marriage to Joseph.” Then he specifies that Jesus was not born of the union of Mary and Joseph, but that he took flesh through Mary by the Holy Spirit. “Before they lived together, she became a mother by the action of the Holy Spirit”. The Gospel expands the story by describing the characteristics of Joseph, the spouse of Mary. He is described as a man who is just, discreet and respectful. After having discovered the disappointing situation of his wife, Joseph decides to divorce her quietly in order to save Mary’s dignity. The second Gospel picture describes how the angel intervened by illuminating the situation in which Mary finds herself while carrying the child Jesus. The angel tells Joseph to take Mary as his spouse, for her child is the work of […]