Joseph and the Language of the Night!

Thursday, December 18, 2025

Jer 23:5-8; Mt 1:18-25

In today’s Gospel, the spotlight falls on Joseph ahead of Christmas. 

It is interesting to think that the name Joseph, both in the Old Testament (Genesis) and in the New Testament, is connected to dreams. The Joseph of Genesis is an interpreter of dreams. The New Testament Joseph is a follower of dreams. 

The word that describes Joseph is ‘righteous.’ But how is his righteousness revealed? 

Joseph’s righteousness is revealed in his mercy towards Mary, his wife. When he learns of her pregnancy before living together, though he wants to divorce her, he wants to do it quietly in a way she would not be exposed to shame or indignity. Hence, Joseph’s righteousness was not about blaming others as sinful but about protecting the dignity of others. 

Secondly, his righteousness is manifested in his openness to God’s plan, though it was revealed to him only in a dream. While he did not dismiss it as a hallucination or a delusion, his spiritual maturity enabled him to discern and act on the Divine revelation. His confusion about Mary was real and human. However, he subjected himself to Divine guidance. 

Thirdly, Joseph’s righteousness lies in his obedience to God’s direction. The text describes that ‘He did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him.’ It requires unshakeable faith to read God’s intentions in a dream and act on them. Joseph’s heart was disposed to obey God always. God constantly talked to the man who never spoke. He listened and obeyed. 

Let us pray that our hearts may remain vigilant to God’s promptings and that we may willingly act on them. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar