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Thursday of the ThirdWeek of Advent
Jeremiah 23:5-8
Psalm 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19
MT 1:18-25
Summary
Did you ever want to right a wrong, but then learn the way to right it goes
against what you thought to be true?
The Gospel today is the Annunciation of Joseph. In this version of the Annunci-
ation, Joseph gets a message in the form of a dream about his newly pregnant
fiancée and must make decisions based on these messages.
Reflection
Today’s reading is from Jeremiah and at its core are the prophetic teachings of
the covenant between God and Israel. He promises them a new leader from the
House of David, and restores the Israelites to their own land.
Reading about the history of the times of Jeremiah, we are aptly reminded of
the horror that is happening today, not 200miles from Jerusalem. Back in the
day of Jeremiah, the Israelites were invaded and governed by the Egyptians, who
were then overthrown by the Babylonians and further subjugated.
Jeremiah pointed out this double downfall was a product of the Jews turning
away from God. His pronouncements were that a new covenant should be built
between the people and their God, and if this happens, a new leader will come
to reassert control over their lost lands. Invasion and subjugation seem to have
happened for the last 2500 years. Let us pray for some peace in the coming
year for the people of the Middle East.
The Annunciation of Joseph is not as well remembered, or as popular, as the An-
nunciation of Mary, in the Gospel of Luke. This passage comes after a genealo-
gy that contains a number of scandalous doings that is mirrored in the discov-
ery of the pregnancy before the marriage has been consummated. Joseph is
introduced as a “just man” and does not want
to find out about the pregnancy, enquired into
as defined by law to find if it was forced or con-
sensual, but rather terminate the marriage qui-
etly.
Into this crisis comes the Annunciation. An
angel through a dream tells Joseph three
things. Firstly marry Mary. Secondly the preg-