Lenten Reflection - Campus Ministry - Campus Life - Stonehill

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a

Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

Now 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."
When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord
had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

Reflection
Sister Christine Hoffner '05

A few days ago, I woke up to my alarm and began to think about the day of school and of life ahead. A minute later, everything changed. An electrical pole across the street caught fire, causing us to slowly lose power to the convent and to the school. Instead of our normal morning routine, we began the series of phone calls to notify students of school being cancelled. Our plans for the day were turned upside down in an instant.

In today's Gospel, we hear of how Joseph was faced with a difficult situation and sought to do the right thing. God then asked something else of him and, telling him, "Do not be afraid," turned his life in a completely different direction.

This Gospel passage challenges me to look at my response to God when he comes into my life and seems to turn my plans upside down. How do I respond to the student who comes into my classroom looking for help? The e-mail I receive from a coworker asking me to do something I may not want to do? The phone call I receive from a friend who needs someone to listen?

We are all challenged to look at our daily, ordinary and hectic lives to see the ways God is telling us, "Do not be afraid," and leading us in new directions. May we respond as Joseph did, allowing salvation into our lives.