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Manila Bulletin devider Reflections devider Betrothed to Joseph

Betrothed to Joseph

Published Mar 19, 2022 12:05 am
REFLECTIONS TODAY Joseph is the “husband” of Mary because they have undergone the erusin (betrothal) ceremony before Mary was discovered to have a child, and then the nisuin (wedding) after the angel explained to Joseph the conception of Mary’s child. In the last ceremony, Joseph “took his wife into his home” (Mt 2:24) and acknowledged Jesus as his very own. Rather than being “foster” father, Joseph is really the “legal” father of Jesus. In the eyes of the Torah, Jesus is his heir. Because of Joseph, Jesus is rightfully “son of David” and heir to the divine promise to David about the Messiah. Joseph has a major role in the Gospel of Matthew. It is to him that the angel reveals the mystery of the conception of Jesus. Finding Mary pregnant must have been a shock to him. Being “a righteous man” or obedient to the Law of Moses, he would have to divorce Mary, but possessing a merciful heart, he was unwilling to expose her to shame—that is bring her before the elders. Mary would certainly be punished severely. Joseph was delivered from his “dark night” by the “annunciation.” When he awoke, he did what the angel told him.

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