Friday of the Third Week of Advent
I have long been fascinated by dreams. My family knows this and they sometimes share theirs with me, especially if it’s a particularly vivid or troubling dream. The Bible has numerous examples of God’s angels speaking to people through their dreams. Dreams have been referred to in contemporary times as “God’s Forgotten Language” and “Unopened Letters from God” (both book titles), perhaps indicative of how we have gotten away from dreams as a potential source of divine communication. With today’s gospel passage (Matthew 1:18-25), we are reminded that an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. The gospel reveals that this is how God chose to communicate a very important message about the conception and birth of Jesus and what role Joseph would play in that. Certainly something he was not expecting.
We know that prior to this important dream, Joseph, being a holy and righteous man, had decided to divorce Mary quietly, “unwilling to expose her to shame” as the law would have allowed upon learning of her being “with child.” Given that they were engaged and not yet living together or “having relations,” we can imagine that this news was surprising and upsetting for Joseph. He likely only saw the two choices in this situation. But God had another plan. Had it even crossed Joseph’s mind?
Joseph was open to the messenger from God who appeared in his dream and revealed to him another scenario, another choice, another path. That this child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and Joseph was to “not be afraid” to take Mary into his home and to name this child Jesus, “because he will save his people from their sins.”
Joseph not only discerned and trusted, he then obeyed and fulfilled his role in our salvation history. Joseph was a quiet, faithful leader, obedient to God even when it was risky and, we might even say, counter-cultural. The perfect model and father for Jesus. Jesus, the one called “Leader of the House of Israel,” one who rules with justice and right.
Thank you, Joseph, for your example of faith, discernment, and obedience. Listening and trusting even (or especially) when your options seemed very limited. Help us to do the same.
~Eileen Miller