The Gospel of Christmas Eve: God With Us - Matthew 1:18-24

The reading begins with Joseph discovering that Mary, his betrothed, is with child. In his righteousness, he plans to divorce her quietly, seeking to protect her from public disgrace. But God interrupts his plans with a divine message delivered through an angel in a dream.

The angel's words cut through Joseph's confusion and fear with a simple command: "Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife." What follows is the heart of the Christmas mystery. The child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit, and Joseph is to name him Jesus, "for he will save his people from their sins."

Matthew reminds us that all of this fulfills the ancient prophecy of Isaiah: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel." Then comes the translation that changes everything: Emmanuel means "God is with us."

This phrase, "God with us," is the entire gospel message compressed into three words. The eternal God, who created the heavens and the earth, chooses not to remain distant but to dwell among us. He enters our world not in power and majesty, but as a vulnerable child born to humble parents in extraordinary circumstances.

Joseph's response to this revelation is remarkable in its simplicity. When he wakes from sleep, he does exactly as the angel commanded. He takes Mary as his wife. He accepts his role in God's plan without fanfare or drama. In his quiet obedience, Joseph becomes a model of faith for all of us.

As we stand on the threshold of Christmas, this gospel invites us to consider what it means that God is with us. Not God far away, not God indifferent to our struggles, but God present in the midst of our lives. The same God who came to Joseph in a dream comes to us in the Christ child we will celebrate tomorrow.

Emmanuel. God with us. Not just two thousand years ago in Bethlehem, but here and now, in this moment, in our joys and sorrows, in our questions and our faith. This Christmas Eve, we remember that the greatest gift is not something God gives us, but Someone who comes to be with us.

May we, like Joseph, have the courage to say yes to God's presence in our lives, even when it disrupts our plans and calls us to trust in what we cannot fully understand.