Joseph lives in the shadows of the Gospel with Matthew alone shining any light upon him. That light first comes in the form of Joseph’s genealogy which is helpful in providing Jesus some credibility with Matthew’s Jewish readers. The second time and the focus of this Sunday’s Gospel, Matthew shines a light on Joseph to show nonbelievers, fathers especially, a path illumined by love.
Joseph’s story reflects a model for relating that moves him from dawning wakefulness and awareness to someone who is beginning to see. What Joseph sees however confuses and concerns him. He is a man whose vision is impaired by custom. He sees his betrothed, Mary, pregnant. He also sees a belief of her pregnancy being “through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Whatever the circumstances of her pregnancy, Joseph, blinded by custom, sees this as a dilemma. Joseph does not yet see that every pregnant woman is, in a sense, pregnant by the power of the Spirit. As Joseph, and hence every man in relationship with a pregnant woman, understands this truth and is enlightened to be loving with her. He is illuminated about the new life to be welcomed into the world. Opening ourselves to the life-giving power of the Spirit transforms our dilemmas; we are illuminated, enlightened by love. However, like Joseph, before we can become illuminated or enlightened by love we first need to exit the realm of dilemma based living. We especially need to exit a world that sees pregnancy and children as a problem. The way the story describes Joseph’s exit is that “the angel of God appeared to him in a dream.” Joseph has an experience that shows him his way through the veils of custom. He sees by way of a dream. He is illuminated, as we are all illuminated when touched with the Spirit, lovingly so. The Spirit moves us off a path that is dimly lit and onto a brightly lit one open to life.
“Ah, we disparage still The Tidings of Good Will, Discrediting Love’s gospel now as then! And with the verbal creed That God is love indeed, Who dares make Love his god before all men?… To love so much, so well… Love is the tide, God the eternal sea.… In the profound unknown, Illumined, fair, and lone, Each star is set to shimmer in its place. In the profound divine Each soul is set to shine … See mighty love alone Transmuting stock and stone… What is the genesis Of every joy and bliss, Each action dared, each beauty brought to birth? (On Love – Bliss Carman)
Prayer: Spirit, we pray to be like Joseph, open to the adventure of new life.
Question: How I am creating a world, a home, in which illuminating life can be welcomed?
December 18, 2016 Matthew 1:18-24 Fourth Sunday of Advent