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CHILDREN'S EDUCATION |
SERMONS The
Fourth Sunday of Advent By David Christian Much has been written through the centuries about the Virgin Mary. And she has played an important part in the life of the Church as an example of discipleship and an object of devotion. And rightly so. She is, after all, the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ and is depicted in the gospels as one of his most faithful followers. She could be found at the foot of the cross when most of the disciples had fled. Much less attention has been paid to Joseph, her husband. Mark never mentions him. He plays a role in Matthew's and Luke's accounts only in the birth and infancy stories. Yet, as the person who, with Mary, was responsible for rearing the child Jesus, he was almost certainly an important person in the life of our Lord. And he is also the central figure in the gospel reading appointed for today, the fourth Sunday of Advent; the last Sunday before we celebrate the feast of the birth of our Lord. Matthew tells us that Joseph was a righteous man. He was a pious Jew, one who attempted to conform his life to the command of God as given in the Law. We can imagine that he was greatly distressed then to learn that Mary, the woman to whom he was engaged to be married, was pregnant. Beyond the normal upset that a revelation such as this would cause, Joseph also would have known the penalty prescribed by the Law for such behavior, stoning. Joseph's sense of justice must have been tempered by compassion. Matthew tells us that rather than demanding this penalty, he decided to dismiss her quietly. Of course, this in itself would have made life difficult enough for Mary. Neither unmarried women nor children had any standing in society during that time, so simple survival would have been a struggle. But as if life wasn't already complicated enough for Joseph, it soon became more complicated still. For into the middle of this turmoil came an angel with a message to him from God. And the message was, ``Don't be afraid. Take Mary as your wife. This child that she is going to bear is from the Holy Spirit. When hi is born you will name him Jesus, for he will save God's people from their sins.'' I don't know about you but I am not sure such a message would have done much to alleviate my anxiety. Yet Matthew tells us that Joseph did as the angel commanded. He took Mary as his wife, and when the child was born they named him Jesus. What little we know of Joseph beyond this suggests that he carried out his responsibilities as the husband of Mary and father of Jesus with care and love. He was careful for their safety and raised Jesus as a conscientious Jew, familiar with and observant of the Law. We can be thankful to God for the faithfulness with which Joseph fulfilled his duties as a guardian and a guide for our Lord. But, more than that, Joseph represents an example for us as we approach our celebration of the feast of the Incarnation. Joseph was, first, a righteous man. He was diligent in studying and following the Law, in living a just life. But his sense of justice was tempered by mercy, by compassion. He did not allow his pursuit of justice to blind him to the difficulty of Mary, and he tried to resolve the situation without harming her. Yet, ultimately, neither justice nor mercy was ultimately important for Joseph. There is a further characteristic of Joseph, beyond these two, that makes him a fitting father for our Lord, and an example for us. Joseph was sensitive to the word of God. He was able to hear the message of the angel and to act on it. He allowed the living word of God to enter and change his life, and to lead him in directions that he had never dreamed. This is the legacy of Joseph for us. Don't let the noise and busyness of the world overwhelm you. Keep your ears open and listen. Listen for the voice of God in the cry of a child; the voice saying, ``Do not be afraid. God is with us.''
Isaiah
7.10-17 |
Chapel
of the Cross · 674 Mannsdale Road · Madison, Mississippi
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