DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY IN THE WEEK OF ADVENT IV (12/23/10)

GOD’S WORD—Matthew 1:19-21
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.”

MEDITATION
There is a time and a place for Christians to ponder the gentle Jesus who is meek and mild. There is an evident tenderness to Christmas what with a vulnerable, newborn child and his mother who was far from home.

While not denying the tenderness and vulnerability of it all, Matthew’s telling of the Christmas story takes on more of a masculine edge. While Luke gives us the “Mary side” of Christmas. Matthew gives us the “Joseph side”. Based on today’s reading, it is evident that Joseph is a gentleman. The angelic implication is that Joseph was afraid of taking Mary as his wife. Like Joseph, a real gentleman knows fear from time to time. Much depends on how fear is dealt with.

Joseph took his direction from the words of the angel. He didn’t move quickly on what his “gut” was telling him to do. He received a word from the Lord, and he “manned up”, as it is said. He gave Mary’s newborn Son the name of Jesus. And with that name came the job description: this child would save people from their sins. When the time came, Joseph stepped up to the plate and undertook his tasks with vigor and energy.

The church of Jesus Christ has its feminine/Mary side. It also has its masculine/Joseph side. God grant to us a full measure of both.

PRAYER
Stir up, we beseech You, O Lord, Your power and come; and with great might protect us, so that our deliverance, impeded by our sins, may be hastened by Your gracious mercy; through Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.

VERSE
O Immanuel,
Our Sovereign and Lawgiver,
Desire of the nations and Savior of all:
Come and save us, O Lord our God.