“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”
Imagine Joseph battling with his problem. He desired to live according to God’s will. According to the law of God, he was entitled to have her stoned to death. However, Joseph was also kind and did not want to put Mary in a bad light. Then the Lord’s angel revealed himself to him and explained what He was doing. Do not be afraid, the angel commanded before assuring Joseph that the baby conceived in Mary was by the Holy Spirit and would be the long-awaited Savior. Jesus was going to “save his people from their sins,” hence the name.
Do you have any fears about the past, the present, or the future? God is present to us in Jesus. And his assurance at the conclusion of Matthew is still true today: “I will be by your side always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
We long to be free from fear, dear Jesus. Give us comfort in knowing that, no matter what, you are with us. Amen.