“Nobody can turn you into a slave unless you allow them. Nobody can make you afraid of anything, unless you allow them. Nobody can tell you to do something wrong, unless you allow them. God never created you to be a slave, man did. God never created division or set up any borders between brothers, man did. God never told you hurt or kill another, man did. So why is man your god, and not the Creator?”

Fear not because God is with you. - St. Padre Pio: (1887 – 1968: was an Italian friar, priest, stigmatist and mystic, now venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church.

Gospel Text: (MT 1:16, 18-21, 24A)

Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

Now 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.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.

Reflect, today, upon the depth of your faith in the face of apparent difficulties.  If you feel God calling you to enter into some challenge in your life right now, follow the example of St. Joseph.  Let God say to you, “Do not be afraid!”  He spoke this to St. Joseph and He speaks it to you.  God’s ways are far above our ways, His thoughts far above our thoughts, His wisdom far above our wisdom.  God had a perfect plan for St. Joseph’s life, and He does for you too.  Walk by faith each and every day and you will see that glorious plan unfold.