Matthew 1:17-21

¹⁷ Now all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.

¹⁸ and the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When Mary, his mother had been engaged to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit.

¹⁹ And her husband Joseph, being a honorable man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

²⁰ But as he thought about these things, see, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for what has happened to her is from the Holy Spirit.

²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

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what has happened to her

What happened to Mary seemed like the worst possible fate. She had been found to be pregnant out of wedlock. It looked like Joseph, to do the right thing, would have to abandon her. But the angel told him not to. The angel said that this pregnancy was in God’s plan.

Mother, are you considering what might be the right thing to do, in your situation?

Father, are you thinking the best choice is to abandon this woman and child? What if it is not the right thing? What if God wants to do something really special with the life that you fathered?

God of love and second chances, give us the wisdom to see your hope springing out of our happenings. Give us the faithfulness that follows your plan, when it is not our plan.