Thoughts for Advent: Joseph
Advent Reflection: Joseph
Revd Mark Williams from Church Church Sandown and St. Paul's Shanklin.
I am pleased to bring a special reflection on a man who I think is often overlooked and that man is Joseph who was married to Mary. In Matthew’s gospel we are told that Mary is found to be with child and that Joseph is aware of this. It would certainly have been hard for Mary to explain all to Joseph.
We are informed that Joseph is a righteous man who does not wish to expose Mary to public shame and has in mind to divorce her quietly. Joseph must have been hurt and bewildered by the news of Mary’s pregnancy. Joseph may even have felt a certain amount of anger at the news.
What did Joseph know about the circumstances of Mary’s pregnancy. Some might say Mary may have told Joseph what had happened with the news from Gabriel. I suppose that is possible but that would mean he believed Mary to be lying. It maybe that Mary was silent because what could she say that Joseph would believe.
I suspect that Joseph did not know the circumstances of how Mary became pregnant and therefore planned to legally divorce Mary presumably through adultery. Whilst they were not yet married their betrothal meant the only way of breaking it was divorce.
Joseph’s actions tell us an awful lot about him. What are they?
1. If Joseph was angry (which he had a right to be) his actions are still nevertheless measured. In your anger do not sin. We are (I am) often angry about things and often rightly so. If we are we must always be measured in our response.
2. Joseph plans to do what he has to do with the minimum amount of hurt possible. Joseph still cares enough about Mary to not want to expose her to public shame.
3. Joseph has made up his mind to divorce Mary but will do so quietly. It is not necessary to disclose all into the public domain and so humiliate people that they lose all dignity.
4. Joseph wishes Mary to retain her dignity. There may sometimes be a need for someone to privately call someone to repentance, but it should be done sensitively.
We can face many situations in which people can look to go on a public vent and we sometimes sadly see this in the public media. In such circumstances people might look to the role of Joseph who was in a real position of hurt and who chose a way that was righteous.
Josephs obedience
Joseph had considered all of this, and his mind is made up. I have no sense in which the LORD God is disappointed or angry with Joseph. What Joseph needs is reassurance and so the LORD sends an angel to speak to him in a dream.
The angel gives clear words of instruction to Joseph. Let us listen to them again “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary into your home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Joseph clearly hears from God through the angel and is obedient in these ways:
1. Joseph did what the angel of the LORD had commanded him to do and took Mary home as his wife.
2. When the child is born he gives him the name Jesus.
3. Joseph is respectful of Mary and of God and has no union with Mary before the birth of Jesus. This was not actually commanded but I believe demonstrates that Joseph is a God-fearing man.
Conclusion
Joseph’s role in the birth narrative must never be underestimated. God had a role for Joseph, and he carries it out faithfully because his character is righteous. By righteous I mean he is right in the eyes of God and that is why he like Mary is chosen.
Joseph could have walked away and ignored the command of God, but he chose the more difficult way and took Mary to be his wife and bring up Jesus because Jesus was clearly from God. Joseph’s initial actions were measured because his heart was right before God. Most importantly Joseph was obedient to what God had commanded.
What does God value above all things? I believe faithfulness to God and his ways is more important to him than anything else. For that reason, we keep short accounts with God in our failings and we continually look for him to guide us and we ask him to direct us in his ways by his Holy Spirit. Amen.
