Posted by The WORD in other words (2018) by Fr Narciso Cellan SVD – Univeristy of San Carlos, Cebu City
December 18
What is the difference between a successful husband and a successful wife? It is said that a successful husband is someone who earns more than what his wife can spend. A successful wife, on the other hand, is someone who finds such a husband.
Kidding aside, today’s gospel tells us of husband Joseph and his wife Mary, and how their marriage was falling apart and failing even before they started living together. We are familiar with their story. Mary was bearing a child that was not Joseph’s. Naturally, Joseph wanted to divorce her, albeit quietly.
The angel of Lord, however, appeared to Joseph in a dream and explained everything to him— the circumstances of Mary’s pregnancy and God’s plan for them. Eventually, Joseph had a change of heart and followed God’s bidding. The rest, of course, is history.
Evangelist Luke highlights Mary’s role in his account of Jesus’ birth (Luke 1-2). Evangelist Matthew for his part allows Joseph to take center stage. For Matthew, Joseph is important because it was through him that Jesus acquired his Davidic lineage (1:1-17).
Regardless of who we are and the circumstances of our life, we all have a role to play in the grand scheme of God’s plan. Our success becomes God’s success when what we aspire for is in line with what He wants.
In the prayer to Senior Sto. Niño, a line reads: “We wish what you wish, because you wish, as you wish, as long as you wish.” Quite confusing initially to understand what the prayer means. Yet, it simply tells us that God never stops wishing for us and that His wishes are always the same, timeless, and unconditional. He desires for us happiness, peace, healing, and love. Hence, praying to the Child Jesus is an invitation to be childlike in our faith of making our wishes one with God’s.
Joseph was an embodiment of such prayer, and so was Mary. As we prepare for the coming of the Lord this Christmas, may we wish as God wishes.
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