A Journey Through Advent: Saturday, Dec. 12, 2021
by the Rev. Deacon Jerre Birdsong,
St. Mark's Episcopal Church, St. Louis
Today's readings: Psalm 72:11-18; Jeremiah 23:5-8; Matthew 1:18-25
We don’t know much about Joseph. Matthew wrote that he was righteous. That doesn’t mean he was nice or a good guy. That means he obeyed Jewish law. And that law required that he take action after learning Mary, his betrothed, was expecting a child. Joseph intended to take the most humane action allowed – he would divorce her, quietly in front of two witnesses instead of the usual public accusation of infidelity before the court. So even before God intervened, we know Joseph was somewhat compassionate and forgiving.
But an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife, as her child is of the Holy Spirit. Joseph obeyed the Lord, knowing that his life would henceforth be a scandal to the community. Joseph’s compassion and living as God intended would be unacceptable to his friends and neighbors. But sometimes God’s work upsets comfortable social conventions. Joseph shows us that compassion can prevail – even when the world expects us to acquiesce to the power of its systems.
As we await God’s incarnation, let us as the church anticipate our participation in the coming Messiah’s compassion for the life of the world.
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