Daily Gospel Reflection for March 19, 2020

Today's Gospel: Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24A - Solemnity of St. Joseph When Mary was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her betrothed, decided to divorce her quietly to protect her from shame. Even though Joseph was a good, righteous man, he simply could not believe Mary was still a virgin, a pregnant virgin. None of us would believe such an outlandish tale with our limited human reasoning because it defies all the laws of nature. It is hard to trust in miracles and in another person’s encounter with the Divine when we have not experienced a tangible touch from the Holy Spirit ourselves. No wonder evangelization is so difficult. People have a great deal of trouble believing in the supernatural when they have only experienced what they can see with their physical eyes and hear with their physical ears. Christians cannot convert others. We can spread the Good News, but it is God who converts hearts. Look at Saint Joseph; it took a dream from an angel of the Lord to change his mind. The angel told an even more fantastic story about Mary’s son -- Joseph was to name Him Jesus because He will save His people from their sins! After this divine encounter, Joseph was a transformed man. All his normal doubts, fears, and rationalizations dissipated. Not only did Joseph trust the angel’s prophecy, his new faith in God’s plans translated into action. Immediately when Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.