Meditation Mt 1,18-24

Stand in God’s presence. God is present here and now, looking upon you with love.

Ask for the Grace:I will beg God our Lord that all my intentionsand actions may be directed purely to the praise and serviceof His Divine Majesty

Fixing a place, a picture for meditation: Joseph sleeps in his home, maybe a little anxiously, because it is a difficult time for him. He decided, that he would leave Mary because she was pregnant. And he is not the Father of the child. See how the angel comes to him in the dream and tells him to stay with Mary and the child she will give birth.

Ask for the fruit of meditation: that I may be guided by the greater glory of God in my choices 

1.     Joseph …  was unwilling to expose her to public disgraceThe situation of Joseph seems unenviable. He plans to marry Mary, and at the time he learns that she is pregnant. How could he feel? Presumably he has the difficult feelings, for instance: anger, regret… Still, he does not want to defame, that is, he does not want to denigrate, spoil the reputation of Mary, but he wants to save her as a man. It seems that he can separate a person from an act (although here, of course, Mary did nothing wrong, but Joseph did not know about it yet). More, Joseph finally accepts her. The most important thing for him was the greater glory of God.How do you live and how do you behave in difficult times in relationships with others? What is your party to the other person? What are you with Joseph?

2.     Emmanuel means “God is with us”.God is with us and in each of us. Look at yourself, your loved ones, your husband, your wife, children as those in whom God is. In this last week of Advent, take care of relationships at home, at work. Maybe this year pre-Christmas preparations will be more focused on creating a warm atmosphere, awakening love that somewhere dims in a thousand different duties. Maybe the preparation for the holidays will mean that you and your family will go to the ice rink, that you will make a common conversation, and you and your family will watch a film together. See what do you need to vacuum and clean in your family before Christmas?

3.     Meet with Joseph and Mary. Be with them as you can. What does this meeting teach you?

Meditation:St Ignatius encourages in The Spiritual Exercises No. 2 … Because not so much knowledge, but internal feeling and the taste of things please and saturate the soul, that is, we stay where we feel interior movement … and nervously do not try to go on.

The final conversation: Spend a little time at the end, being with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit….as you would with a good friend: sometimes talking, sometimes listening, sometimes being together in silence. Speak to God about your feelings. Remember that times when ‘nothing is happening’ can also be significant. When you’re ready, end your prayer by saying thank you or using words that are familiar, such as the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father)–whichever feels right and comfortable. (The Spiritual Exercises No.54)