When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him.

Matthew 1:24

Matthew 1:18-25

Reflection

While Mary and Joseph are betrothed, Mary is found to be pregnant. Joseph decides to divorce her quietly, but is visited in a dream by an angel telling him that Mary has conceived by the Holy Spirit. He is told to take Mary into his home, and when Joseph awakes, he does what he was commanded to do.

Joseph is told explicitly in a dream what God’s will was for him in a crucial moment. Most of us probably don’t have an experience like this, but we can still follow Joseph’s example of immediately following God’s will when we know what it is.

Joseph faced much uncertainty and potential confusion when he learned Mary was pregnant. Likewise, we may have situations that cause confusion and uncertainty, making us question what the right decision is. Joseph trusts in the Lord and acts upon his word, and we can do likewise. The Holy Spirit will guide us and inspire us, helping us to discern and follow God’s will. How can you listen to the will of God this week?

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Saint of the Day

St. Paul My: died 1838

St. Paul My was a Vietnamese martyr. When he converted to Catholicism, he joined the Paris Foreign Missions and helped spread the faith in Vietnam. He was eventually captured and killed for his faith. St. Paul My, pray for us!