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Gospel Lesson for the
Week
December 23, 2007
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Fourth Sunday
in Advent
Please
read:
Also read:
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother
Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was
found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her
to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.
But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to
him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take
Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save
his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through
the prophet:
"Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him
Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us."
When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded
him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until
she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
--- Matthew 1:18-25
.
In
Joseph’s Shoes
.
Amid the wonder and
delight
and all the tinsled
trappings of Christmas,
come moments of sober
reflection
that lead us all to
question:
Under those circumstances
What would we have done?
It taxes credulity to
believe
these stories of angel
intervention
and Spirit impregnation.
And so, amid the
heartbreak,
it’s best to cut it clean
and sadly move on.
But do it quietly, to save
the maid
her cruel embarrassment.
Any rational man,
any sensible man,
any sensitive man
would
have done just that.
But in the night, a dream.
And this time it is he
who received angelic
assurance:
”Don’t be afraid!”
(What blessed monotony,
this word of
encouragement,
given first to Mary,
and later to shepherds,
and here to the village
carpenter)
“Don’t be afraid.”
Easier said than done!
But waking, facing his
fears,
and putting behind his
skepticism,
he took her as his bride,
postponing the delights of
married life
until the Child was born.
That’s how it happened,
so the Gospel says.
And so amid the wonder and
delight
and all the tinsled
trappings of Christmas,
I ponder the act of this
good man
this sensitive man,
this kind man,
this obedient man.
I keep on wondering
what I would have done
if I had been in Joseph’s
shoes.
--- rvc
*** D I S C L A I M E R ***
The Weekly Lessons are based on the lectionary
texts for the week – usually the Gospel lesson. They are not designed as a
formal commentary. Rather, they are the personal reflections and original
compositions of The Relay Online editor, Rev. Robin Van
Cleef, and offer a jumping off point, using the scriptures as triggers to
thought, imagination, and (we hope) empowerment. As you read them, let your own
imagination play, and let the Spirit speak to you, leading you where it will.
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