We have this proclamation about how Jesus
came to be conceived in Mary’s womb.
We have this beautiful story about Joseph, Mary, and Jesus,
the Holy Family, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

What surprised me from the earliest age I could remember,
what still surprises me,
was how Joseph was getting ready to divorce Mary.

In fact, this Holy Family that we hold up
and name churches after,
this Holy Family,
almost ended in divorce,
if not for the power of the Holy Spirit.

It was the Holy Spirit
who intervened with Joseph in a dream and said,
“Take Mary, your wife, into your home.
Do not divorce her.”

On this day, on this Fourth Sunday of Advent,
I want to take a moment
to talk about something I don’t speak about very often:
divorce.

Some of our families experience divorce.
We know this to be true.
I know this to be true among my own family and friends.

I want to share three things
that may be helpful
as we experience divorce
among our families, friends,
and even in our own lives.

First of all, I want you to know—
I want everyone who has ever experienced divorce to know—
that you are radically loved.

When two people get a divorce,
neither one of them feels very loved at that time.
For many people,
it is one of the lowest moments of their lives.

But I want you to know:
you are loved.

And I want all of us to hear this,
because we are the ones
who must remind those who are divorced
that they are loved.

Can you help me do that?
Can you help remind those who have experienced divorce
that they are loved?

Amen.

Second, as we gather together today,
remember this:
the Church radically welcomes you.

Yes—the Church radically welcomes you.

To all who are listening,
to all who are part of the Church,
we welcome those who are divorced.

Divorce can be an embarrassing and painful time.
Sometimes people don’t even want to be seen in public.

If you have experienced divorce,
place yourself in the nurturing, loving embrace of your Church.
You are welcomed.
You are loved.

You are welcomed
to be an active member of the Church.
Please know that.

And finally, the last thing I want to encourage you to consider
is taking the journey of discernment with the Church,
allowing the Church to investigate your marriage.

If that includes the annulment process,
I truly encourage you to prayerfully consider it.

Because God has something in store for you.
I don’t know what that is,
and you don’t know what that is,
but God does.

So I encourage you to engage that process,
because you are loved,
you are welcomed,
and you are encouraged
to continue walking
in the Body of the Church.

Amen?
You know, the Holy Family almost wound up in divorce.
If Joseph had not been attentive to the Angel,
They would have gotten divorced.
But the Angel spoke to Joseph, and he remained with Mary.
Our families today—some of them end in divorce.
You are loved, you are welcomed, and you are encouraged
To continue to walk as a faithful member of the Church.
Jesus loves you and watches over you
And brings all of us healing.
May Jesus watch over all of our Holy Families,
Those connected, those disconnected.
May Jesus watch over and heal all of our
Holy Families as we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ Birth.
Amen.