MONTHLY DEVOTIONAL FOR 18 DECEMBER
December 18, 2025
FEAST OF SAINT ANASTASIUS I, POPE – 19th DECEMBER
December 19, 2025
TODAY’S GOSPEL READING
18 DECEMBER, 2024
Matthew 1:18-25
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.”
All this took place to fulfill
what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
He had no relations with her until she bore a son,
and he named him Jesus.
THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD!
REFLECTION
Today’s Gospel illuminates the quiet strength and profound faith of Saint Joseph, a man caught in an unimaginable dilemma. Betrothed to Mary, he discovers her pregnancy, a situation that by law could bring her public shame or worse. Joseph, described as ‘a man of honour,’ chose compassion over strict adherence to the law, planning to divorce her informally to spare her.
This shows his deep love and respect. Yet, God intervened not with a public display, but through a dream, revealing the divine origin of the child. Joseph’s immediate and silent obedience is a powerful testament to his trust in God’s plan, even when it defied human understanding.
In a world often demanding visible proofs and logical explanations, Joseph’s journey teaches us to listen for God’s quiet promptings, to overcome fear with faith, and to embrace divine mysteries with humble and courageous obedience. His ‘yes’ made the Incarnation possible, a reminder that our humble acts of faith contribute to God’s grand design.
PRAYER
Lord God, like Saint Joseph, grant us the grace to listen intently to Your voice amidst life’s complexities. Strengthen our faith to trust Your divine plan, even when it challenges our understanding. May we respond with humble obedience and courageous hearts, always seeking to do Your holy will. Amen
