An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph 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.” (Matthew 1:20)

For a moment, imagine that you are Joseph. You learned that Mary was pregnant and decided to divorce her. Now this dream of the angel is causing you to reconsider. The dream is so real that you can’t stop thinking about it. You might want to tell someone, seek their advice, but who is going to believe you? 

“What is the right thing to do?” This question was in Joseph’s mind before he made the decision to stand by Mary. In the gospel, Joseph is described as a “righteous man,” which means someone who observes the law. But Joseph’s righteousness is also visible in his strength and sensitivity, which equip him as a faithful protector and provider. 

The consequence of Joseph’s decision means accepting a life not entirely of his own making. It is God who has chosen both him and Mary, and now they must choose God’s way, rather then their own, and rely on God. The twist in the story is that when Jesus is born, it will be the other way around: God will rely on Joseph and Mary.

The prophet Isaiah said that “a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” For Joseph and Mary, this was both a duty and a blessing, but by obeying God’s will they learned something else. They learned that God is not only with them, God is for them. God does not leave them alone; God will guide and protect and bless them. That remains true for all of us. God wants the best for us and for our church and for our society. 

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” (Matthew 9:21) God calls laborers to work for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Are you one of them? Wherever you are - along the road of your choosing, or on another path entirely - God is calling you. Even if you have little faith, God still calls you. When you say you are willing, your faith will increase and you will find opportunities to serve. 

That’s the good news. For Mary and Joseph, God was literally with them in the child they nurtured and loved. In the muddle and mess of their lives God was also for them, as they raised a family and flourished in the face of adversity. They listened to God who trusted them to do the right thing. 

When Jesus was born, the world stood still. Heaven came to earth, unheralded except by angels and a few shepherds. In the embrace of his mother Mary and under the protection of his stepfather Joseph, Jesus began his life among us. How blessed we are to welcome him once more, and draw near to the gift of God’s gracious love!

May you have a Blessed and Merry Christmas!

Father David