“Now the generation of Christ was in this wise…”
Matthew now explains the mystery directly.
“Before they came together”
This means before Joseph and Mary lived together as husband and wife.
Mary is already espoused to Joseph, which in Jewish culture was a real and binding marriage covenant.
“She was found with child, of the Holy Ghost.”
The Church teaches this literally and historically.
Not symbolically.
Not poetically.
Not metaphorically.
Mary truly conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Why the Virgin Birth Matters
This is essential Christianity.
If Christ were merely ordinary man, He could not save humanity fully.
Salvation begins from God’s initiative.
Christianity is not humanity climbing upward toward God.
It is God coming down to save humanity.
Common Modern Confusion
Some modern people say:
“The Virgin Birth is just symbolic.”
But if the Gospel becomes merely symbolic, Christianity collapses into mythology.
The Church insists:
God truly acted in history.
Matthew 1:19
“Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man…”
Joseph is called:
“just.”
This means righteous, holy, faithful to God.
Joseph’s Greatness
Joseph is often overlooked because he speaks no recorded words in Scripture.
Yet he is one of the greatest saints.
Why?
Because holiness is not measured by noise or prominence.
Joseph shows:
• obedience
• humility
• purity
• courage
• self-sacrifice
• trust in God
Joseph Does Not React Sinfully
Joseph does not:
• rage publicly
• seek revenge
• humiliate Mary
He acts with restraint and mercy.
This reveals true righteousness.
Important Spiritual Lesson
Modern culture often associates strength with aggression or domination.
Joseph reveals another kind of strength:
holiness, restraint, responsibility, and obedience.
Matthew 1:20
“Be not afraid to take unto thee Mary thy wife…”
Joseph receives revelation through an angel.
This teaches something crucial.
We Need Revelation
Human reason alone cannot discover the mysteries of salvation fully.
God must reveal Himself.
Christianity is not merely philosophy.
It is divine revelation.
Joseph’s Faith
Joseph obeys before understanding everything fully.
This is biblical faith.
Faith means trusting God even when everything is not yet clear.
Matthew 1:21
“And she shall bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Jesus. For he shall save his people from their sins.”
This verse explains the heart of Christianity.
“He shall save”
Humanity needs salvation.
This is one of the most neglected truths today.
Modern culture often teaches that people are basically fine and merely need improvement or affirmation.
But Scripture teaches humanity is wounded deeply by sin.
“From their sins”
Notice carefully:
The angel does not say:
• from political oppression
• from emotional discomfort
• from earthly difficulty alone
The deepest human problem is sin.
And Christ came to conquer it.
What Sin Is
Sin is not merely rule-breaking.
Sin separates humanity from God.
It wounds the soul.
It distorts the human person.
It brings death.
Christ came to heal this rupture.
Why the Cross Matters
Jesus saves through:
• His Passion
• His death
• His Resurrection
Christianity is therefore not merely moral teaching.
It is redemption.
Matthew 1:22–23
“Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled…”
Matthew constantly speaks about fulfilment.
What Fulfilment Means
The Old Testament points toward Christ everywhere.
Prophecies, sacrifices, kings, covenants, and symbols all prepare for Him.
Catholics call this:
typology
The Old Testament is preparation.
The New Testament is fulfilment.
“Behold a virgin shall be with child…”
Matthew quotes the prophet Isaias (Isaiah).
The Church has always understood this literally.
Mary truly remained virgin.
Why Mary’s Virginity Matters
Mary’s virginity points toward:
• Christ’s divine origin
• the holiness of the Incarnation
• total consecration to God
The Incarnation is utterly unique.
“Emmanuel”
This means:
“God with us.”
This is one of the greatest truths in all Scripture.
Christianity is not merely about humanity seeking God.
It is about God coming to humanity.
Jesus Is Truly God
Not merely:
• inspired by God
• close to God
• sent by God
but:
God Himself come among us.
This is the mystery of the Incarnation.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 