Behold, the Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall name Him Emmanuel

12-21-2025Weekly ReflectionFr. Manasseh lorchir, VC

One of the most precious gifts gratuitously given to human beings by God is the gift of freewill. So precious is this gift that God Himself respects it. He does not compel us to worship or have a relationship with Him against our will. To each of us, God extends an invitation to a life with Him in the Spirit which is properly entered into through baptism and is then expected to be lived responsibly and faithfully thereafter.

If we accept to become children of God by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:12), we willingly accept to be faithful to the new covenant relationship we have willingly entered into because God will always hold us to our word. It is not in the character of God to be passive in any covenant relationship He has with anyone. There is always the strong possibility of Him “taking over” our lives and “interfering” in our business if we let Him into our lives.

This is what the prophets, monarchs and priests of the Old Testament and indeed the people of Israel with which God entered into a covenant relationship found out as the History of Salvation unfolded before them. Many times they found God getting involved in their lives because of the covenant they had made with Him. There were instances like God making a choice of leadership for them, reprimanding King Saul for disobedience, calling David to account for wrong-doing, splitting into two the United Kingdom of Israel for their unfaithfulness, and sending them on exile for sustained idolatry. The Readings at the liturgy this weekend provide further examples where God intervened in the course of history to again His purposes. In the First Reading, King Ahaz is asked by God to ask for a sign to which he responded in the negative with pseudo piety. God elected to give him a sign in spite of his reluctance to ask for one. The sign was “The virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.” This is what Paul affirmed in the Second Reading where he held that the Gospel he was preaching was that of Jesus Christ, descendant of David according to the flesh, in fulfilment of what “He promised previously through His prophets in the Holy Scripture.”

In the Gospel passage Matthew, the Evangelist, makes it clear that God decided to fulfil this promise in the House of Joseph, a descendant of Ahaz and David and husband of the Virgin Mary. While they were betrothed to each other, Joseph realized that Mary was with child. Obviously dismayed by such a discovery, and being a righteous man, he was unwilling to expose her to shame and so decided to divorce her quietly. Here we must pause for a moment and reflect on Joseph’s piety, selflessness and kindness to others. Even before obtaining clarification from God, Joseph made a decision from his kind heart that would not increase Mary’s hurt. If he was not going to be able to stop her pain, he was unwilling to add to it. Kindness and mercy should so grow in a person who has accepted Christ that it should come naturally when faced with decision moments.

Just then, God decided to get involved in Joseph’s life by asking him in a dream to take Mary who had conceived Jesus in her womb by the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph demonstrated yet again his faithfulness by obeying this directive. His entire life would be changed by this “yes” to God as he would be required to suffer hardship in silence in order to be husband of Mary and foster father to God the Son. God has no intention to be a passive spectator of your life once you accept His invitation to a life with Him in the Spirit. Sometimes, His “invasion” of our lives may turn out to be a li‚ le bit distressing. However, if we trust and obey Him like Joseph did, we shall find purpose, fulfillment and true joy that all the wealth of this world can never give.

Please be kind and may God bless you.

Fr. Manasseh Iorchir, VC