Skip to main content
SUNDAY
December 21, 2025
Liturgical Season
4th Sunday
Advent
Year C
Share!
Biblical Reflections

Partners in God’s plan

Sunday, December 21, 2025

Listening the Spirit

Lord, thank you for the gift of Your Word, the ancient promise that sustains Your people in hope. As I go about my day, waiting for Your coming, may I not forget the scriptures You have opened up for me. Help me to recognize how You want me to prepare a way for You in my daily life. Holy Spirit, guided by Your Word, may You enlighten my mind and enkindle in my heart a greater love, that I may be ready to welcome You in my brothers and sisters. Amen.

Listening the Word: Matthew 1:18-24

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
"Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel, 
which means "God is with us."
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.

Reflection

Since creation to the days of Moses and the prophets, God looks for people who is willing to have a part in the salvation process of humanity. In is this reaching out that there are different answers. Many say no, they have another plan, priorities, visions, interests. Some get to change their minds but finally come to join, like St. Paul. We remember how he persecuted Christians for their blasphemies and false teaching about Christ but thanks to the grace of encountering the resurrected Christ, he changes his mind and decides to follow him and becomes and apostle, as unworthy as he may be.
Joseph, in the gospel, joins the plan of God but not straight away. He is a just man, and he makes decisions according to what he knows and what is the best. He may have thought that what was happening to Mary had nothing to do with him. So, he just wanted to leave quietly. However, God intervened in his dreams to show him that he had a role to play in this plan. His answer was positive and generous. Without saying a word, he became part of the life of Jesus and Mary, he became also part of us as the church and believers in Christ.
Many times, we feel ourselves “out of place,” as simple spectators of the unfolding salvific plan of God, at some times even we may have rejected to take part. However, God’s way is to let ourselves being involved and become blessings and source of salvation for other people. Our presence, care, love, service, can make a difference in the people around us. As simple as being a loving father/mother and husband or wife. A good classmate, coworker of companion on the way can make our life a little more cheerful, bearable and joyful.    
God almighty Father, thank you let us be involved in your plan of salvation for all humanity. That our lives, as insignificant as we may perceive them, become means of your life to everyone, especially people in suffering and pain.

Reflection Questions

 

  1. Where in my life might God be inviting me to become a partner in His plan, even if I feel unworthy, hesitant, or “out of place,” like Paul or Joseph at first?
  2. How can my simple presence, love, and daily service become a source of blessing and salvation for the people God has placed around me today?

 

Video

Fr. Edgar Nava, SX

Latest Reflections

FaLang translation system by Faboba