Trafficking? Is that a Christmas-y topic? Seems it might be. A dad was desperate to marry off his three darling daughters for whom he had no dowries to entice appropriate spouses. What to do? They needed support – in 4^th century Asia Minor, anyway. St. Nicholas, roaming with pastoral devotion around his diocese just before Christmas that first year, did what a caring pastor or parent would do – rifled his diocesan coffers, bundled up the necessary gold coins, tossed them through the girls’ window and saved them from lives of “slavery”, a/k/a prostitution.

In today’s second reading, St. Paul refers to himself as “a slave of Christ Jesus” (odd phrasing).  Isaiah, in the first reading, says that the house of David is not only wearying people with their obstinacy – they are wearying God! Such behavior elicits an unimaginable sign – a virgin conceiving and bearing a son! Certainly “a blessing from the Lord, a reward from God the savior”, as the Responsorial Psalm reports. Out of so much anguish comes resolution and peace. The Gospel reading is in accord with that: Joseph, uncertain to a profound extent of what to do about his betrothed’s embarrassing condition, agonizing over his decision, is suddenly and completely freed by the reassurance of an angel who showed up in his dream, by God’s providence.

Think of all the frazzled, ever-desperate parents of our time, wondering how to “save” Christmas, how to make it a good Christmas for their hopeful children. There are dozens of ways to contribute to the needs of poor families: Toys for Tots and so many other good-spirited efforts of our society. What does one more donation matter? You may not know until heaven but give it a try. In so doing you can relieve a little desperation, spark a little glee “so we may press forward all the more eagerly to the worthy celebration of the Son’s Nativity” (from the Prayer after Communion on December 18). Not a bad way to complete your Advent journey.