Mary agreed to God’s plan, which put Joseph in a bind. He risked ignoring manmade laws and did the right thing by accepting his role in the Holy Family. Jesus chose the Twelve Apostles after spending a night in prayer. Then He preached the Beatitudes to assure a waiting crowd that consolations in heaven surpass afflictions on Earth. Making a decision based on the bedrock of faith enables a person to stand firm. In a world of worldly philosophies, Saint Paul listed what Christians should do. How often do we compare our actions to those of others, deeming ourselves “not bad,” when Jesus’ standards start with goodness?