MATTHEW 1:18-25
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
REFLECTION
Christmas at Matthew’s house includes Joseph who is often an overlooked figure in the story of our Lord’s birth. There are certainly other, perhaps more significant characters, but let’s give Joseph a closer look. While Mary was a strong and faithful young woman, in reality, her care during that point in history would most likely have fallen to Joseph.
Imagine for a moment, what it would have meant for a man at that time to marry a pregnant young woman. What would it have done to his reputation, his work life, his family? What advice would you have given as his parent?
Yet, when the Spirit of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream, he said, “Here I am, Lord.” He was ready and willing to be bold for the Gospel in a very sacrificial way.
This Advent season, I wonder what message we can learn from Joseph. How is our Lord calling us to participate in the bold and loving vision our God has for our world? What judgment of others do we need to ignore, and what sacrifices will we need to make? Might stepping out of our comfort zones and dining with an unsheltered neighbor at Room in the Inn be a way to enact Joseph’s courage? Or serving hungry neighbors in the food panty? How can we, too, be brave for the sake of the Gospel as we work for a whole and just world?
As we welcome the Baby Jesus with our whole hearts this Advent, how do we welcome him with our whole selves, our very being?
WRITTEN BY
Rev. Lucy Crain