Joseph’s plan is disrupted
Matthew 1:18-25
18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah[a] 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. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20 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. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ 22 All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel’,
which means, ‘God is with us.’ 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
Joseph was engaged to Mary. He learned that she was pregnant, and he knew he was not the father. He was hurt, he was righteous, he was also caring. So he decided to break in engagement – how could he marry a woman who appeared to love another – but to do so quietly. Not a public humiliation, but a quiet, painful end to the relationship. His mind was made up, the plan set.
Then the angel of the Lord came with a message and said, “This is not what you think. Do not be afraid to marry Mary, and you are to name the child, Jesus.” This was a major disruption. Not only was Joseph to throw out his plan, he was to take up a responsibility that was not his. Mary had said “yes”. But now Joseph needs to say “yes” as well. His “yes” will be as disruptive to his life as hers was to her life. Joseph’s reputation as one who did the right thing will now be questioned. Family is likely to ostracize him and Mary. And in asking (telling) him to name the child “Jesus”, Joseph is being asked to take public responsibility for a child that is not his. He is being asked to do a hard thing, a demanding thing, even as we will see with next week’s readings, a risky thing.
When the angel said, “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife”, the angel was not saying life is going to be easy. Rather the angel was saying – God is inviting you to participate in this high and holy calling which will demand the best you have to offer. But know this “God is with you.”
The same promise is made to us, when we are invited to do hard things for God, invited to join God in the hard work of participating the kingdom of God, invited to disrupt our lives for what God is doing, the promise is God is with us, Immanuel.
PRAYER:
O Lord, we rejoice that Joseph said “yes” when you invited him to disrupt his plans and his life to join your plan and your mission. Shape us as people to be willing to do the hard things you invite us to. We pray this in the promise you have made that in Jesus Christ you are with us. In his name we pray. Amen.