MATTHEW 1:1-16, 18-23
Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Messiah.

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.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name Him Emmanuel,” which means “God is with us.”

Reflection
She will bear a son: Matthew writes his gospel primarily for the Jewish Christians of the first century. He presents Jesus as the awaited Jewish Messiah whom scriptures say will be a descendant of David (1 Chr 17:10-14). For the Jews, the Messiah is a matter of family, place of birth, and genealogy.

Joseph, who is of the house and family of David, will be the foster father of Jesus in fulfillment of the scriptures (Lk 2:4). Mary, the virgin from Nazareth, bears Jesus in her womb by the power of the Spirit (Mt 1:20; Lk 1:35). Jesus the “Son of the Father” is thus truly human and yet truly divine.

The oldest reference to Mary in the New Testament identifies her as the “woman” chosen by the Father to accomplish the plan of sending Jesus the Son in the fullness of time (Gal 4:4). Contrary to the charge that Mary distracts us from Jesus, she points us to Him as the Anointed One sent from above. Mary is portrayed as one who shares Jesus’ concern that the Father’s divine plan be done (Mk 3:31-35).

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