Today is the last Sunday of Advent, and next Sunday, December 25, is the beginning of the Christmas season. The beauty of our Gospel for today lies in seeing how God chose to become Man by having a family like us. He chose Joseph and Mary to be parents even though He did not come from Joseph in the flesh. Saint Joseph was obedient to God. He had no doubts if it was God's will. God's plan to become a Man is incomprehensible; maybe he did not think he was worthy of it. But God commissioned him through an angel, and he wholeheartedly obeyed to continue marrying Mary.

This is how we are with God's plans for us. Maybe we see many obstacles that need to be overcome, but God's plan and promises to us will always happen. He will take care of everything if we let Him. Before that, we need to learn to trust Him. Our mother Mary is like this too. She did not know how it would be that she would have a child as a virgin, but in her question, she merely inquired about how it would happen. The angel of the Lord answered that the Holy Spirit would overshadow her, and she would conceive the child by the power of God. It happened and was our Lord Jesus’ conception in her womb because nothing is impossible with God.

This season, we will have many gatherings or parties. It’s time again to meet our families and relatives. An important concern for all in the midst of conflicts, resentment, and misunderstandings, is God’s design of the family as the foundation of our lives. God invites us to forgive and be patient. A sign of this is if we are at peace and have no negative desires or thoughts towards others, even when we have experienced pain through them. If there is any disagreement and conflict, we know that it is from the devil who wants to destroy God's plan.

Understanding through God's wisdom, patience, genuine conversation, and forgiveness will overcome all weakness and hurt. This way, we will truly have peace and unity in the family as what happened to the Holy Family because they obeyed God's will despite the many obstacles. They became the home of the Messiah in this world and the way for the salvation of all. Our individual families also have an important mission. May we discover it and take care of it.

 May we make God the center of our lives, homes, and families so that all of us will be truly glad, good, and at peace in Christ.

Amen. +

Marga de Jesus | OLA Social Communications