
Father Todd O. Strange
Dec 22, 20254 min read
4th Sunday of Advent, Cycle A (2025)
Of the various characters we focus on in Advent, one who historically has been overlooked is Joseph. Today’s Gospel tells us that he and Mary were betrothed. We might think that means something like engagement, but actually, it’s marriage. In their culture, marriage was a two-step process. Betrothal was a formal exchange of consent before witnesses. Usually about a year later, the second step occurred, when the groom took the bride into his home. Joseph learned of Mary’s pr
