Today, on this fourth Sunday of Advent, the reading presents us with the figure of Joseph. In the Gospels, we do not hear much about Joseph, and the text we have just heard is one of the exceptions. We can easily imagine his confusion, even his despair, when he learned that Mary, his fiancée, was pregnant. All his plans for the future were thwarted. There was not only the personal desappointment, but also the public shame that accompanied such a situation.

But the Gospel presents him to us as a righteous man. He is aware of ethical standards, but he does not want to cause a scandal; rather, he seeks to find a discreet solution without exposing Mary to shame. But when he had already made this decision, an angel appeared to him and told him not to be afraid to take Mary into his home. The angel showed him the bigger picture. It was through the Holy Spirit that this child was conceived. That changed everything. Joseph took Mary into his home and accepted his paternal responsibility for a child that was not biologically his.

Joseph is an example to us. We can learn from his reaction towards Mary, from his willingness to take responsibility and to remain discreet. But above all because he trusted God and was willing to change his perspective on things. Today, we are faced with so much that troubles us. Are we ready to open our eyes to the Holy Spirit at work? Being ready to discern the action of the Holy Spirit in the world and in our lives does not solve all problems, but it changes our view of the world. It can inspire us to say yes to life and to take responsibility.

I would like to look at one more point. In this text, we are presented with two different names. One of these names is Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us’. The other name is Jesus, which means ‘the Lord is salvation’. Etymologically, the name ‘Jesus’ combines the name of God and salvation to signify that the Lord, and he alone, saves his people from evil by his sovereign grace. At first glance, the presence of two different names may be confusing. But if we look more closely, the two names mean the same thing, for the God who is with us is also the God who saves us. Jesus comes to save us from our sins and establish a relationship with us. A relationship that never ends. That is why he came to Earth.