s we continue our Advent journey, please find a quiet, interruption-free place where you can spend time in reflection and prayer. Begin by lighting your candle and spending a few minutes to move away from the pace of the day. You might find it helpful to close your eyes and take several deep breaths to prepare you for your time with God. When you are ready, you may continue.

Reading

We continue our Advent journey with a reading from the gospel of Matthew, chapter 1, verses 18 through 24:

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. When Mary his mother was engaged to Joseph, before they were married, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband was a righteous man. Because he didn’t want to humiliate her, he decided to call off their engagement quietly. As he was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child she carries was conceived by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Now all of this took place so that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled:

Look! A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son,

And they will call him, Emmanuel.

(Emmanuel means “God with us.”)

When Joseph woke up, he did just as an angel from God commanded and took Mary as his wife. (Common English Bible)

Read the scripture again. This time, notice the words or thoughts that draw your attention. Pause and savor these words that drew your attention.

Read the scripture a final time. This time, imagine yourself in the scene that is described in the text. What sights do you see? What sounds do you hear? What do you feel as you experience this event?

Reflection

Next, we reflect on what we have read and experienced. Take yourself back to the scene described in the scripture. Spend some time reflecting on these questions.

Matthew’s account of the events leading up to Jesus’ birth causes us to reflect on the emotional response to the news. Because Joseph was a righteous man and didn’t want to humiliate Mary, he decided to quietly end their engagement. Image the conversation between Mary and Joseph upon hearing the news that Mary is expecting a baby. What do you hear them say to each other? What do you suppose Mary was thinking as she recognized the possibility that her engagement to Joseph might end? Imagine what Mary might have thought when Joseph, instead, took her to be his wife?

What are you waiting for in your life? What challenges come with that desire or need in your life? What doubts do you have? What reassurance does God have for you at this moment?

Prayer

We close our experience in prayer:

“God, thank you for your promises to us. Thank you for your encouragement. Like you did for Mary and Joseph, please help me to see beyond the difficult challenges and remind me of the hope of my future in you. Let me continue to feel your presence, as I wait with you.”

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

As it was in the beginning, and now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.