Daily Readings: Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25

The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they enjoyed their wedding night, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn’t know that.) Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced…Matthew 1:18-19, The Message

Joseph was a decent man, even when he found out Mary was pregnant. Instead of subjecting her to public humiliation, he would just quietly end the engagement. Then came the dream, the wedding, a trek to Bethlehem, and a baby. Then a flight to Egypt to escape Herod’s extermination, a return to Nazareth, and life with a growing family.

It wasn’t just Mary who said yes. When Joseph said yes, God-With-Us got a good father, one who stayed with him and his mother through all that life threw at them.

He said/She said – Yes! And the world hasn’t been the same since.