Joseph's Dream

Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent

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Gospel of 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......        

Truth Revealed in A Dream  Joseph was a good man.  When he found out about Mary's pregnancy, he decided to divorce her quietly.  He could have publicly shamed her, announcing to the crowds of her obvious "affair" with another man.  Scary to think Mary stoned to death if it wasn't for Joseph's righteousness and a dream.

God placed in Joseph a loving heart to be deeply admired - a caring heart.  Yet, it took the power of a dream to reveal the truth of Mary's pregnancy:  She was carrying a child conceived by the Holy Spirit.  How could this be?  How unbelievable!  When Joseph woke from his dream, he sprang into action and did as the angel commanded.  He took the dream seriously realizing the importance of what it revealed.

Do you ever remember your own dreams?  Do they reveal things in your life you may be overlooking?  

Figment of the Imagination Most of the time when we experience a dream we quickly forget about it.  Most dreams don't make a whole lot of sense.  They are a whirlwind of thoughts and images. Some dreams are funny while others are frightening. Dreams can appear so real.  It's a good thing that dreams while sleeping don't fall into the category of committing mortal sin.  I think my confessor would blush in embarrassment if I revealed the details of some of the rather "racy" dreams I've experienced in the past. Small nuggets of soap opera drama......

Dream interpretation   What are your dreams in the waking life?  Do they center around God?  We may have difficulty interpreting dreams from sleep.  The subconscious mind is truly an enigma.  However, our own "waking dreams" don't need interpretation as much as they need awareness, preparation, and action.  We may dream of owning a home, living in a new city, traveling abroad, or maybe even entering religious life someday.  Turning to the Lord for guidance can help us realize our dreams.  If it's truly His will, our dreams will bear fruit.  If not, dreams will take an unexpected turn.  I never thought in my "wildest dreams" that I would be writing a religious blog! Interesting how the Holy Spirit "interprets" our dreams for us.  

The Lord gives us what we need at the right time and circumstances.  Just like the angel alerted Joseph of his Mary's divine womb, the Holy Spirit alerts us.  All we need to do is watch, wait, and listen.

-J.