Joseph was in a bind! Mary, his betrothed, had become pregnant. Both law and custom were on his side. Joseph could have broken his vow to become her husband, thereby putting Mary to shame. Or, he could have divorced her quietly, thereby putting her in an untenable position. He could have charged her with infidelity, thus repudiating her and reducing her to a life of shame.

While Joseph was trying to decide what to do, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said: "Joseph, Son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

According to the customs and standards of his day, Joseph had every right to divorce Mary quietly. …