For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her

19 MARCH (Mt 1,16.18-21.24a)

Joseph is a righteous man. Justice consists for him to live the will of God always seeking the highest good. He is not just who lives the Scripture of God according to the letter. On the contrary, who lives it according to the Spirit, is. Just as Saint Paul teaches.

One is not a Jew outwardly. True circumcision is not outward, in the flesh. Rather, one is a Jew inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart, in the spirit, not the letter; his praise is not from human beings but from God (Rm 2,28-29). But now we are released from the law, dead to what held us captive, so that we may serve in the newness of the spirit and not under the obsolete letter (Rm 7,6). Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that of ourselves we are qualified to take credit for anything as coming from us; rather, our qualification comes from God, who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life (2Cor 3,4-6).

The Virgin Mary is pregnant. Joseph ignores the mystery that is lived in the virginal womb of his spouse. In his justice according to the Spirit, he does not want to cause any harm to Mary. That is why he thinks of repudiating her secretly. No one understands. No one knows. The honor of the Virgin Mary is safe. No one might say anything against her. The righteous living his righteousness according to the Spirit, always thinks of doing the greatest good for everyone, always. The true righteous always abhors evil. There is no place in his heart for evil, ever. In it instead there is room for the greater good.

The Lord has found the heart of Joseph right. He can entrust him with the mission of being the Father of his Only Son and the Bridegroom of his Virgin Spouse, that through the work of the Holy Spirit became the Mother of the Redeemer and Savior of mankind. However, this mission requires a revelation. The Lord sends one of his angels at night, in a dream, to Joseph. He reveals him the mystery of Mary. He assigns him his new vocation. He must be the true Father of adoption of the Son of God. He must always be the virgin, chaste and pure bridegroom of the Spouse of God. He must always serve the Mother and the Son with a virgin, chaste, pure and holy love, full of devotion and great dedication.

Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Messiah. Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “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.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

Now Joseph is asked to make a big leap. He must pass from justice, even if perfect, because it is lived according to the Spirit; to obedience, which is the delivery of his own life so that all the will of God is expressed and manifested in it. This leap is the result of a most pure faith. Joseph believes, gives himself to God, he wakes up and does as the angel asked him. He takes the Virgin Mary with him as his wife and remains true to her virginity for all the days of his life. To a virgin and mother spouse God places side by side a virgin and father of adoption bridegroom.

Faith is the acceptance of the Word of God. Joseph listens and obeys. The obedience to the faith asks him for the perpetual virginity in spirit and body, and he abandons all projects of biological paternity in order to live only of spiritual, adoptive paternity. Always true faith demands a sacrifice. There is no true faith without sacrifice. Today we wish we had a faith without sacrifice. This is impossible. Never might it be realized. Sacrifice and faith are one reality. Faith is sacrifice. The true sacrifice is only the one according to the faith. Giuseppe sacrifices to the faith his human, natural virility, according to the flesh, because the Lord wants to give him a spiritual virility.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints teach us the true sacrifice.