The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream

THURSDAY 19 MARCH (Mt 1,16.18-21.24a)

In the relationship between God and every man, everything takes place through a manifestation of the divine will. Not only after sin, but from the very moment of creation the Lord showed him the path of life. In nature the Creator wrote his image and likeness, in the Word he placed it before his eyes so that he always remembered what the purpose for which he was created, is: obeying his nature, acting according to nature and carrying out the project that has been entrusted to him. Nothing is from the will of man. All instead is from the will of God. Today this is the real human and even Christian drama. Man wants everything from his will, nothing from his rationality, nothing from his nature, nothing from the will of his Creator, nothing from his Word, nothing from his Law, nothing from the Gospel of Christ Jesus and nothing that is objective, everything must be strictly subjective. Today, the truth is the will of every single man. It is the modern tower of Babel. It is the universal confusion. It is idolatry elevated to the highest foolishness.

Joseph finds himself before a historical event. He is engaged. Mary awaits a child in her womb. From the Gospel according to Luke we know that you she pregnant by the work of the Holy Spirit. She is a Virgin and a Mother. She is a Mother and a Virgin. We do not know what the Mother of God said to Joseph. Since He is a just man, he thinks he of withdrawing from the life of Mary. But not by doing this publicly, but secretly, in a covert way. In those days the woman was at the mercy of man. The libel of repudiation could always be given. But Joseph wants silence, not clamour. This is the will of man. But is it also God’s will? If He wants something else it is right that he manifests it. The angel of the Lord comes in a dream to Joseph at night, he explains the mystery that is taking place in Mary and asks Joseph to take her with him as his bride. He also asks him to make Jesus his true son of adoption, imposing his name on him. He must be the true bridegroom in the perpetual virginity of the Mother of God and the true Father of adoption of Christ the Lord. Why is Jesus born? To save his people from their sins. The will of God is manifested and revealed. Now Joseph knows what the Lord wants from him. We know that having woken from sleep, Joseph readily obeys his God. Everything has been ordered him, he does it. God’s will is an inviolable law for him. First he was from the written Word and from the wisdom of its justice. Now he is from the voice of his Lord and from the wisdom of his direct command.

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.

Joseph teaches us that every man owes to God an obedience of wisdom, greater justice and search of an always greater good. He tells us that the Law must not be observed according to the letter, but always in the Holy Spirit. He is perfect in justice and perfect in wisdom. But are justice and wisdom enough to know the mystery of God about the personal life? No. It is necessary for everyone to ask the Lord to reveal him, to manifest him and to communicate to him what his will to be accomplished is, what the project to be carried out is and what the mission to be dedicated to, is. The ways through which the Lord reveals himself are many. For every man the Lord follows a particular path and mode. But one thing must be certain for everyone: everyone must have the intimate conviction in the Holy Spirit to be in the will of God in every moment of his life. Not in the law. Not in the Gospel. But in the will of his Lord. We were created to accomplish the will of the Lord today. It is accomplished by always walking in his Law and in his Word, in his grace and truth and in justice and wisdom.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints, take our steps in the present will of the Lord.