In today's first reading, Jeremiah 23: 5-8, the prophet prophesies that The Lord will "raise up a righteous shoot to David." The royal dynasty has deteriorated. Israel's king sunk into a cycle of corruption, murdering Uriah and committing adultery with his widow. The royal dynasty also included apostates like King Ahaz (2 Kgs 15) and weaklings like King Zedekiah (Jer 38: 5, 19, 24-26). The royal house itself had become corrupt. God promises, however, that out of the stump of Jesse a righteous King shall be be born. The prophets held on to their belief in God's promises in the most wretched of times, in times of upheaval and darkness.
In the Gospel of today, Mt 1: 18-35, Joseph, who is betrothed to Mary, discovers that she is pregnant and not with his child. From human appearances it looks as though she has also become corrupt and committed adultery, as did King David. Joseph agonizes over what he sees and decides to divorce Mary quietly when God intervenes. In a dream an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph and says to him: "Joseph, son of David, 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. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins"
The prophets, Mary and Joseph, are righteous people living in a world that is corrupt, that is immersed in sin. They cling to God's promises and listen to the Spirit's Voice, directing them to make right choices, even if those choices could be misinterpreted, misunderstood, and/or ridiculed or even could lead to death. Their faith and trust in God was unshakable. Their "house" was built on Rock, the Rock of the Scriptures, the Word of God!
We might ask ourselves: Upon what is my "house" built? Whose voice do I follow? When I face dilemmas similar to or as baffling as Joseph's, how do I handle them? In what ways does God confront my ways of thinking when they are contrary to what God is asking of me?
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