Sheringham: St Peter

Joseph A Quiet Man: Matthew 1:18-25

This Sunday, we light the fourth Advent candle to remember Jesus’ mother Mary but our Gospel Reading is about her husband Joseph. Mary said ‘yes’ when the Angel Gabriel asked her to be the mother of God. However for Joseph it was ‘No No!’ as for him Mary had been unfaithful and was pregnant with another man’s child!

Mary was betrothed to Joseph but what did this mean?

At the time Jewish marriage was a two-stage process: betrothal and full marriage. The betrothal was a legally binding commitment, a marriage contract before witnesses but the couple did not live together for a year. The bride continued to live at her father’s house while the groom prepared a house for them. A divorce was required to dissolve this relationship.

After this betrothal period, the groom would go in grand procession to the bride’s home and bring her to his house. This wedding celebration would last for several days and they were fully married.

When Mary conceived Jesus by the Holy Spirit, she and Joseph were betrothed but not yet living together. This could have led to public scandal in the small village of Nazareth. Joseph initially planned to divorce Mary quietly to avoid exposing her to public shame, showing him to be a man of justice, righteousness and mercy. However, an angel appeared to him in a dream, telling him that the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and to continue with the marriage. Joseph obeyed and took Mary into his home. Joseph changed his human mind and listened to the voice of God. God speaks through dreams, visions, angels, things both seen and unseen.

Through Joseph two prophecies concerning the Messiah from the Old Testament were fulfilled. In his Gospel Matthew traces the genealogy of Jesus back through Joseph’s line to David and right back to Abraham. Ancestry was of great importance in Jewish society and descent from David was foretold for the Messiah. Also Luke’s Gospel tells us that through Joseph the prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem was fulfilled as Joseph had to register there for the census.

Joseph doesn't say a word in the Gospels but he had a quiet courage that led to action to care for and protect his family. Joseph shows that we can have a profound impact through our actions rather than words. He heard and listened to God’s voice. We often underestimate the power of silence.

‘ In quietness and trust shall be your strength.’(Isaiah 30:15).

‘A time to keep silent, and a time to speak’ (Ecclesiastes 3:7)

In Luke’s Gospel Joseph took Mary and Jesus to Egypt to escape Herod’s massacre of infants and later brought them back to Nazareth after he listened to another angelic message.

Joseph was present at the birth of Jesus, the presentation of baby Jesus at the Temple and whenJesus was ‘lost’ in the Temple aged 12. The Bible does not mention Joseph after this but traditionsays he was older than Mary and died before Jesus’ ministry began. This is implied because Joseph is not mentioned at the wedding of Canna or at the crucifixion when he would have been expected to take charge of Jesus' body but instead this role was performed by Joseph of Arimathea.

Joseph was a carpenter, a trade he probably taught Jesus. The properties of wood include strength , resistance, durability, like Joseph himself. He was Jesus’ earthy father and must have had a great influence in his early life. What a privilege and honour to be foster father to God’s son! He is an example for us to trust and obey God’s plan for our lives. What seems to be disaster, as initially Mary’s pregnancy was for Joseph, can be God’s gift to us. God had it all planned out, providing Joseph’s loving support and protection of Joseph for Mary and baby Jesus. Let us trust and obey as Joseph did when we do not see God’s perspective but our own.

Joseph worked quietly in the background, protecting and nurturing his family. At this time of Christmas let us too nurture our families. These days families come in many forms through breakdowns of marriages and relationships but whatever the mix God has brought these people together and to us. So let us give thanks for them and like Joseph support and love them, not forgetting of course our church family.

Peace, Love and Joy to everyone this Christmas.

Angela Stewart.

Sheringham: St Peter

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