💖 HOMILY - DECEMBER 18 💖

First Reading - Jeremiah 23:5-8 

Gospel - Matthew 1:18-24

In a world often marked by uncertainty, broken leadership, and fragile hope, today’s readings speak powerfully about God’s promise to act decisively for the good of His people. They assure us that God does not abandon His plan when human strength fails. Instead, He raises up a righteous saviour and invites us to trust Him even when the path forward is unclear.

In the first reading, the prophet Jeremiah proclaims God’s promise of a “righteous Branch” from the line of David. This promised king will reign with justice and integrity, bringing safety and restoration to God’s people. The image of the Branch tells us that even when everything seems cut down or lost, God can bring new life. This ruler will not be known for power or conquest, but for righteousness. Under his reign, fear will give way to security, and exile will be replaced by homecoming. God’s faithfulness, not human achievement, is the source of this hope.

The Gospel shows us how this promise begins to take flesh in a quiet and deeply human way. Joseph discovers that Mary is with child, and his world is shaken. He is a righteous man, yet he faces a situation he cannot understand. Rather than acting in anger or fear, Joseph chooses compassion. Then, in a dream, God reveals His plan: the child is conceived by the Holy Spirit and will be called Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins. Joseph responds not with words, but with obedience. He takes Mary into his home and becomes a guardian of God’s promise.

Dear friends, God’s saving work often begins in hidden obedience. The righteous king promised by Jeremiah enters the world not with royal splendour, but through the quiet faith of a carpenter who trusts God more than his own understanding. Joseph does not have all the answers, but he chooses faith. In doing so, he becomes part of God’s plan to bring salvation to the world.

There are times when God’s will may confuse us, when His plans disrupt our expectations, or when obedience seems risky. Like Joseph, we may be asked to trust without full clarity. Today’s readings encourage us to believe that God is at work even in what we do not yet understand.

God is still raising up the righteous Branch in our lives—bringing hope where there is disappointment, justice where there is brokenness, and new beginnings where there seems to be no future. Our role is to respond as Joseph did: with humility, trust, and faithful action.

As we reflect on these readings, let us ask for the grace to listen attentively to God’s voice and to act with courage when He calls us. When we do, we too become participants in God’s saving work, allowing His promises to take flesh in our own lives and in the world around us.