Wednesday, December 18, 2024

18 December 2024 - Joseph, son of David


Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.

Joseph was a righteous man. Therefore he was not the sort of man that would be assume the worst about someone with the impeccable character of his betrothed. Mary knew in advance that she did not plan to have children the normal way (see Luke 1:34) and so we must assume Joseph also knew it. It is hard to imagine that he suddenly became paranoid and jealous about what he previously believed about Mary. And if it had been for these reasons that he planned to divorce her we could hardly say it was caused by righteousness. It's true that what had come about in Mary was difficult to explain almost to the point of being unbelievable. But a Godly man like Joseph saw this as a sign that he was involved in something that was, as it were, above his pay grade. He didn't want to bring shame upon Mary by his own involvement in something that he did not understand and for which he did not see himself as qualified. 

Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.

The angel appeared to Joseph not so much to assuage his doubts about Mary as about himself. For this reason the angel addressed him as son of David, emphasizing the importance of his own part in the story as the one that would provide the link between David and the "righteous branch" that was being raised up in Jesus Christ. The plan was being orchestrated by the Holy Spirit himself. All that was required of Joseph for the time being was the courage to obey and do what he had originally planned, bringing Mary his wife into his home. The Holy Spirit would continue to do the rest as he had thus far.

She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.

Joseph was the one destined to give Jesus the name which is now exulted above every other name, a name that means God saves. This was something that it was uniquely fitting for Joseph, son of David, to do, establishing Jesus as his offspring, but also acknowledging that this child was not only going to save the world generically, but Joseph himself.

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel

The closer God comes to us the more we sometimes try to excuse ourselves from being involved. Sometimes this stems from genuine piety like it did for Joseph. But often our holy fear is intermixed with less noble motives. We think that rather than something so intense and exulted we might prefer some relaxing entertainment. And if all we had to contribute to God's plan was what we are in ourselves then yes, we might as well opt out. But God is implicating us in a plan for which the Holy Spirit is the one who is primarily responsible. The angel would have us hear similar words to Joseph: "do not be afraid". We should not be afraid to play our part nor to draw near by our devotion to Mary who brought Emmanuel into the world, and continues to help us draw near to him. We should respond to God's call with the promptness of Joseph who obeyed the moment he woke from this prophetic dream.

When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.


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