Preparation for Sunday mass: Matthew 1:18-24

We present here the text that will be read at Sunday mass, the 8th Sunday of the Great Advent (for Great Advent see here), and we formulate some questions that might help us prepare to hear the reading.

joseph angel

18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.

20 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. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us."

24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife.

For adults:

- What might have been the fate of Mary if Joseph had not been a righteous man of God?

- What do we know about Joseph?

- What role does Mary play in your life?

For children:

- Who is Joseph? What role does he play in Jesus’s life?

- Who is Mary? What role does she play in Jesus’s life?

- Jesus is born into a family just like we are. What is the importance of a family in your life?