I am smiling as I think about our Christmas Pageant yesterday.

Our children were so cute as they acted out the story of Christ’s birth at Christmas.

Then each group led us all in singing a Christmas carol together.

A mic was passed and hearing a child’s voice singing into it – priceless!

Something I like to do is watch the parents and guardians watching their kids.

I can literally see love on your faces as you smile at your children.

The Christmas story is one of love.

God loved each person on Earth so much that He humbly became one of us, through a young woman named Mary.

One of my favorite parts of the Christmas story is what we will hear in this coming Sunday’s Gospel reading.

Mary is betrothed to Joseph.

Before their marriage is celebrated, Mary conceives a Child through the Holy Spirit.

Joseph decides to quietly divorce her.

He is a good man and does not want Mary to go through shame and punishment.

Joseph goes to sleep.

God spoke to Joseph through an angel in a dream.

When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. Matthew 1:24

I have a statue of Sleeping Saint Joseph on a shelf in my office.

I love the reminder to listen to God.

He does speak to us in dreams, through the words of someone, through a song, through prayers, through Mass, through the sound of leaves on a windy day, through children presenting a Christmas Pageant.

Not only does Saint Joseph remind me to listen to God, but to have the faith and courage to do what God asks.

We heard the Christmas story of Christ’s birth through our children and the Christmas Pageant yesterday.

We also heard parts of the Christmas story in the Christmas carols we sang together yesterday.

As we continue our Advent journey this week, let’s listen for other ways God is talking to us and pause to hear what He is saying.   

Blessings of Listening to God!