The fourth Wednesday In Advent
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
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. 19Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20But 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. 21She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." 22All 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." 24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
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. Mary always gets the spot light on Christmas Eve. Joseph stands waiting in the wings. Perhaps we should put the spot light on him too for Joseph was a stand up sort of a guy.
Joseph’s fiancé was found to be pregnant. He knew it wasn’t him. So he decided to do the only thing a righteous, honorable, upstanding, First Century Jew would do. He did the same thing that most men I know today would do. She was guilty of breach of contract! He could get off scot free. To his credit he decided to do it “quietly.” He didn’t want to disgrace her.
BUT he changed his mind. He heard God’s word and like Mary he was willing to be an instrument of God. Joseph had a lot to lose. It would soon be apparent that Mary was pregnant. If he didn’t dismiss her it would be assumed that he was the father. He would be disgraced for getting her pregnant before they were married. But Joseph heard the word of the Lord from the angel and changed his mind. Joseph was a stand up guy. Like Mary, he was ready to do the Lord’s bidding even though it would cost him his standing in the community.
I’ve been a stand up guy at times too. I recall being in a local hardware store and hearing the owner and a few customers talking. They were using the “N” word liberally and loudly. At first I thought I would just pay for my stuff and walk out. But I changed my mind. I confronted them. I put my purchases on the counter, told them I was offended at the tone of their conversation and their language, and announced that I would not be back and that I would tell all my friends why. It was nothing like Joseph and Mary but I did change my mind do what I believe God was bidding at that moment.
SO WHEN have you been a stand up guy/gal and changed your mind to do God’s bigging?
Stir up your power, O Lord and come. Come to us and embolden us to change our minds when we hear your word to us. AMEN
I too hate the racist comments and when my child was young, I told an older family member that racist jokes were not appropriate around my daughter.
ReplyDeleteI've never considered quite so closely that Joseph, too, and not just Mary, stood to lose honor in his community once her pregnancy became known. Indeed!
ReplyDeleteOnce, while serving as a pastor in Springfield, IL, I was in a Subway restaurant and the parents/grandparents in a booth next to me were being verbally abusive to the little girl w/ them. I took a chance, gave them my business card w/ contact info on it, told them I knew that parenting could be stressful, that I was a pastor in the community, and that if they needed help, they should feel free to call me. They never did, but at least I made the point that someone else had been watching and noticing their behavior. They quieted down after that -- at least for the time being. I certainly pray they got the help they needed, for the sake of their daughter/granddaughter.