So how would you respond if an angel appeared to you one night in your sleep? Would you believe it was an angel? If so, would you obey? Or would you dismiss the whole event as a figment of your imagination?
Fortunately for us, St. Joseph did not do what the character in this cartoon did. Instead, he humbly obeyed.
IN THE BIBLE …
“But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” (Mt 1:20, NRSVCE)
- Mt 1:18-25 (Focal Passage)
- Mt 1:1-25 (Background Reading)
CONSIDER THIS …
Angels are real. The Bible is full of stories about how God sent angels on His behalf to interact with mankind. The Catechism fully supports the existence of angels too. They are a big part of the Kingdom of God which Jesus told us to preach to the world (Mt 24:14). So why do we have such a hard time convincing ourselves that God might be using an angel when we encounter strange circumstance and happenstance in our lives? How might God have used us if only we had listened?
The cartoon above is intended to make you laugh a little — and perhaps, think a lot. St. Joseph did the right thing! He was a good man who wished only to do the will of God. What about you?
FORMATION TIME …
Based on the cartoon above, the Bible stories, and your own personal reflection:
- What are you doing now in your life that you ought to stop doing?
- What are you not doing right now that you ought to start doing?
- Or what are you doing now that you can continue doing, but you need to change how you’re doing it?
NEXT STEPS …
Listen to the Lord. Respond. Become the person He wants you to be.
In Christ!
