Flower

Flower

Thursday, December 12, 2024

25 Days with St. Joseph: From Nazareth to Bethlehem-Day 13

“Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.” Matthew 1:19


Good evening Lord. 


It’s been five days since I last saw Mary. After praying and worrying nonstop, I finally decided that I needed to go talk to her. If she didn’t give me an explanation, then I would have no choice but to cancel our betrothal. 


I knocked at her door, and she opened immediately. “Mary,” I said to her, “it seems impossible to believe you guilty, because of your goodness and purity. But yet, you are expecting a child that is clearly not mine.” 


She just nodded and didn’t say a word. I was waiting for some explanation from her, but since it seemed like she was not going to disclose the mystery, I continued: 


“I cannot continue with our betrothal, Mary, under these circumstances. Yet, at the same time, I do not want to deliver you to the authorities to be stoned. I could not bear that punishment for you because I know that you have a good and gentle heart. I do not know how this could possibly have happened to us, but I know that I don’t want to shame you publicly. I do not wish to injure your reputation of holiness by involving you in the punishment of the law; yet at the same time I cannot stand by and witness the consequences of your pregnancy. Therefore, I think that the best solution would be for me to divorce you quietly, and you should return to Elizabeth and Zacharias’ house until the birth of the baby. I will leave now, Mary, and commit myself to the providence of the Lord, who governs me. Be safe, Mary, and may the Lord go with you.”


My heart broke into a million pieces as I walked away, but I could not fathom any other solution. I pray, beseech and supplicate to you, O Lord, that if I am acting wrongly, that you make it known to me without delay.


Good night, Lord. 


Reflection:


Joseph was praying incessantly, and God was not responding. Have you been praying for something, and God seems to be ignoring you?  We must trust that God has our best interests at heart. We can use Joseph as an example of perseverance in prayer, even when it seems that God is not listening. 


Copyright © 2024 Christy Romero. All rights reserved.


Resources from the following books are being used on this journey:

  1. The Mystical City of God: A Popular Abridgement of the Divine History and Live of the Virgin Mother of God by Venerable Mary of Agreda
  2. Consecration to St. Joseph by Fr. Donald H. Calloway
  3. Las Palabras Calladas: Diario de Maria de Nazaret by Pedro Miguel Lamet 
  4. All Bible references are from the New American Revised Edition Bible (NAREB) unless otherwise specified.

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