Advent Homily: Joseph Doubts, Mary Trusts, God Provides

Readings and Virtual Homily for December 21, 2025, Fourth Sunday of Advent;  Christmas Greetings From Casablanca; Christmas Greetings From Hayward

Readings for Mass this Sunday:

• Isaiah 7:10-14

• Psalm 24:1-6

• Romans 1:1-7

• Matthew 1:18-24

Dear Friends and Family,

Today's readings give us the infancy narrative from Matthew's perspective, perhaps more specifically, from Joseph's perspective.  Luke gives us many details from Mary's experience; Matthew, not so much.  

It is Matthew who tells us in today's Gospel passage that Joseph, learning of Mary's pregnancy, had decided to quietly divorce her.  Matthew then gives us what amounts to a third annunciation scene, the first two occurring in Luke (Gabriel with Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, and Gabriel with Mary).  Matthew does not identify the angel who spoke to Joseph in a dream, assuring him that Mary's pregnancy was the work of the Holy Spirit.  But we know from Matthew that Joseph, who like his Old Testament namesake, was a man who responded to messages sent through dreams, abandoned all doubt and disappointment in Mary, as a result of what the angel revealed to him.

This says a lot, obviously, about Joseph.  But it also tells us a lot about Mary.  She was, after all, a teen-ager.  She had already, before Gabriel appeared, committed herself to a life of consecration to God; she had no plans to live as a normal wife and mother.  Then she is told that she will indeed be a mother, the mother of the Messiah.  Mary asked Gabriel how this was to be, given her desire to consecrate herself completely to God.  Gabriel answers, Mary believes and immediately sets out for the hill country of Judea, there to assist her cousin Elizabeth, who is six months along with John the Baptist.

And what happens with Elizabeth is important.  It is especially important when we consider what subsequently happened with Joseph.

Elizabeth affirms that what Gabriel has told Mary is not only true, but already happening.  "How is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" (Luke 1:43).  Elizabeth is Mary's first assurance, after her encounter with Gabriel, that she is, indeed, to be the mother of the Messiah.  

Joseph, who has not been favored as Elizabeth was, with divine understanding, leans on his human understanding.  In six words, this dynamic might be summed up as follows.  Elizabeth affirms.  Joseph doubts.  Mary trusts.

There is a lot for all of us in this dynamic.  Like Mary, each of us is tasked with "giving birth to Jesus" in the world.  We accomplish this mission simply by going about our daily lives, trying to live as disciples.  Trying to show forth the love of God in our words and especially, in our actions.  

We say yes, as Mary did, every day of our lives when we resist temptation; when we give encouragement and hope to others; when we practice patience, generosity, kindness, and other virtues; when we forgive.  There are times, off and on throughout our lives, when we say yes to something big, even something very big, and not infrequently in giving that assent, in saying that Yes, we encounter resistance.  We encounter, perhaps, what appears to be a resistance that will thwart our efforts to be true to our Yes to God.

That is what Mary was encountering here.  Not, of course, that she could not have delivered the baby Jesus without Joseph at her side.  Just that her Yes would have been hugely complicated, made far more difficult, as a result.  Mary could not know how God was going to resolve this situation.  She had to simply trust.

But she was not trusting in a vacuum.  God had already sent her confirmation of his word, stunning confirmation, through Elizabeth.  Elizabeth by natural means could have known nothing of Mary's situation.  Mary had not texted her from Nazareth, "Hey girlfriend!  Gabriel just dropped by.  Told me you're pregnant!  So am I!  Taking the bullet train tomorrow to help you with the baby."  Elizabeth understood what she did about Mary, of course, not by natural but by supernatural means.  God spoke to Mary through Elizabeth.

The point for us is this: God will send us Elizabeths.  When, in our efforts to fulfill our Yes to God, we encounter what seems an insurmountable obstacle, God will send us confirmation that we are on the right track and that we need do only what Mary did.  Wait on the Lord.  Trust.

So much easier said than done!

Casablanca is sending Christmas greetings.  I've heard this week from each of my Three Main Men in Morocco -- Mehdi, Khalid and Mounir.  They always remember me at Christmas.  Mehdi even remembers me at Thanksgiving.  Mounir reminded me that Casablanca looks very Western at this time of year, not just with Christmas lights, Christmas trees and images of Santa, but with manger scenes.  Moroccans celebrate December 25 with a reverence for Jesus that is impressive.  All three of them are asking me when I am returning and I am promising them, and everyone else through them, that el Padre will be in Casablanca in June.  Inshallah, as we say in Berlin.  

But really, I do hope to be in Morocco again next summer.  Barring something unforeseen, the path looks clear.

Hayward is also sending Christmas greetings.  That is, I am getting my Christmas cards out.  115 in the mail as of today (Saturday) and likely to get that number out again by Monday.  At about 350 in all, though, I will be at them, on and off right through this coming week.  This is way early for me.  It's been ten years at least, since I got over half my cards in the mail on or before December 24.  I guess all it takes is a sabbatical...

Gonna wrap it at that.  Hope this finds you well and happy.

God bless you this joyful season.  Merry Christmas!

Love,

Fr. Brawn