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.””

— Matthew 1:18-25

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My Two Cents….

The story of Joseph’s dream is one that is usually missed in the tales that folks tell this time of year. Better we tell fabricated yarns about snowmen, watching elves, and jolly fellas in red suits than a story about a troubled man’s dreams.

But that is exactly what Matthew, the gospel writer, focuses on. Mary’s pregnancy presents the good and righteous Joseph with a dilemma. What should he do? The child is not his own. Should he demand a public accounting of her impropriety? The law allowed for such justice. Mary would get what “she deserved” for her indiscretions. Somehow that didn’t seem right. Joseph could do better by taking the road of compassion with a quiet dismissal. That resolution, of course, gives way to another Godly solution.

I am struck by the messy nature of this often ignored Christmas story. Unexpected pregnancies, infidelities (assumed and actual), sleepless nights, troubled hearts, and damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-don’t scenarios are messy. Even if we have never dealt with these particulars, we have still had to muddle through situations and relationships that were less than ideal. We have had our souls troubled by the circumstances of life and have found ourselves faced with difficult decisions.

In those moments, what we say and do matter. Our words and actions will either help to bring resolution and solution or make things even more complicated. Sometimes we will make the right moves, often we will not.

We don’t know much about Joseph other than the few stories that Matthew tells about him in the first two chapters of this gospel. What we do know is that when it mattered most, Joseph said and did the right thing. He put his pride aside and took Mary as his wife, claimed her chid as his own. Joseph guided his family to the safety of Eygpt. Joseph is a strong and faithful character. In Bible-speak, he is “righteous.” This means that he lives in right-relationships with God and with others.

From this description, which is how we are introduced to Joseph, we learn an important aspect of the life of faith. Faithfulness doesn’t happen overnight nor does it occur in a vacuum. It is a matter of long-haul living. Joseph’s ability to dream, interpret the dream, and respond is set in the larger context of a life that is directed toward God. Though we are not explicitly told so in the text, this undoubtedly included an active prayer and worship life. You can guarantee that compassion and good works were also a part of the picture.

Joseph lived out his faith prior to the angelic visitation. Faithful living is the backstory that allowed Joseph to be receptive and responsive to God’s message.

Here is where the story of Joseph’s dream becomes more than just a holiday fable for seasonal recollection. This story offers us a pathway for every day, year-round living. It encourages us to daily seek righteousness. Not in some pious and spiritually aloof manner but in a down-to-earth practical way. Joseph wasn’t a learned priest or Pharisee - he was a carpenter.

How might we take the opportunity of this week to pray, worship, and serve? What might our words and actions build? How might we seek to be in “right-relationships” with others? How our faithful living prepare our hearts, minds, and dreams for God’s visitation?

In Christ’s Light,

Walt

Permission granted to share today's content with family and friends.  Copyrighted 2019. Walt Lichtenberger

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