The gospel story is about the impending coming of Jesus! God revealed to Joseph in a dream, that: Mary conceived with a child, and the son to be born will be named, “JESUS!” - the “EMMANUEL – GOD-WITHIN-US!”

When Joseph heard all these, instead of abandoning Mary, he said, “YES” to God. He took Mary and the child - not only into his house, but also into his heart. In Joseph’s heart, the dream became real. He trusted God; he trusted Mary, and he trusted Jesus. From Joseph’s heart, TRUST is his life-giving gift to Mary.

Reflect on the following spiritual gifts of TRUST:

• 1st: TRUTH! Joseph was told in a dream that Mary is with a child! For him it was the truth! His loyalty to God engendered him to take Mary and the child into his house and into his heart. The truth is, he loves Mary and the child! Like Joseph, let us be truthful in our relationship. Fidelity to the truth can be our gift to our loved ones! The truth will set us free!
• 2nd: RESPECT! Respect is Joseph’s gift to Mary. He honored Mary as a woman and reverenced her as the mother of the Savior of the world. Since each one is a reflection of the image and likeness of God, respect must also be our gift to everyone. Let us imitate Joseph’s high regard to Mary as a woman and mother.
• 3rd: UNDERSTANDING! Joseph understood his dream. He listened to God’s voice that revealed the Savior who is conceived by Mary. Therefore, like Joseph, it is imperative that we should understand each other; we should exhibit a listening heart to each other, because listening is the beginning of understanding!
• 4th: SERVICE! Joseph demonstrated an elegant service to Mary and the child by sheltering them in his house and loving them in his heart. It is a genuine service that flows from Christ’s words: “No greater love than this to lay down one’s life for one’s friends…” - a life-giving service that we can emulate throughout Christmas and beyond.
• 5th: TRANSFORMATION! When the four gifts are lived by us, we cannot help but be in the process of transformation, that we can change. A change that brings us to who we were in the beginning of time: [God] chose us in him before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him”. (Eph 1:1-10) Change creates a fresh Christian image and likeness of God in us.

With TRUST forever in our hearts, let us take Mary and Jesus in our homes; let our hearts become the birthplace of the EMMANUEL during Christmas!

For faith sharing, light the fourth candle and reflect on these questions: “ What is your favorite among the spiritual gifts of TRUST? And why?”