Joseph, Lighting the Candle of Peace

art by Gerard van Honthorst 

As we greet this second Sunday of Advent, we prepare to light the candle of peace and I am thinking about Joseph. Surely, Joseph was a man of peace. 

 

artist not known

I'm reading Luke 2:4-7 and Mathew 1:18-25 & Mathew 2 and asking what in Joseph's life shows us how to be a follower of Christ? First, Joseph was a man of caring and righteous justice. He did not seek to shame Mary, even if he did not ask for this conflict in his life nor understand it. He displayed restraint in both action, word, and deed. Second, Joseph listened to the Angel of the Lord. He believed the words of the angel concerning God's work in the world through Mary and also in regards to Mary's innocence. At a highly volatile time, Joseph's voice was in tune with God and God's messenger. He listened to God's words not the world's words. Third, Joseph obeyed the civil authorities and laws of the land by obeying and going to the town of his birth. Fourth, after the birth of Jesus and the passage of time, he is still actively listening to God. His life shows a consistent pattern of receptivity to God. As a result, when it was time to flee King Herod and head to Egypt he led his family to safety. Lastly, when it was time to return home, he again received direction from God and obeyed. He did not let living in a foreign country with foreign gods keep him from living his own personal relationship with God.

In Hebrew, Joseph (said Yosef) means “he will add.” Joseph desperately needed grace for the journey, and God added it to his life. Joseph brought peace and stability to the stable. Joseph shows us how to light the candle of peace in our communities. 

 art by Gerard van Honthorst

We don't know much about Joseph's life. But we do know he was a listening man and a man of peace. Surely, when Jesus said, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you," He learned those things from His earthly father and His heavenly Father. 

(Mathew 6:25-34)

Advent Within Us

Hannah, The Courage to Believe

Hannah is my focus on this first Sunday of Advent. She, like Mary, had the courage to believe. The courage to believe that God had blessings waiting in the wings for her. How she must have battled the day to day thirst for soul blessings in a desert of barrenness. She had no fruit of the womb, nor fruit of the world. She had nothing to show for her life, nor even her existence. Yet, in the face of barrenness, she believed her life held a purpose and God had a perfect plan.

Peninah's critical voice did not detour Hannah's faith in God's good plan for her. Nor, did Hannah settle for worshiping Elkanah, a mortal man. She did not believe the words of condemnation Eli spoke over her. Hannah was able to press beyond the voice of criticism.* Hannah persevered and prevailed in prayer. Hannah held on to her God given vision.

What vision of Himself and of your own self has God given you? Are you holding to your vision in the face of criticism and condemnation? Let us prevail, through prayer, to bring the presence of the Lord into our lives this Advent season.

Pondering Hannah's Prayer became Praise

My heart rejoices in the Lord;
in the Lord my horn is lifted high.

There is no one holy like the Lord;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;

It is not by strength that one prevails;
those who oppose the Lord will be broken.

1 Samuel 2

 The world most often condemns us or asks us to conform.

The church may ask us to perform.

Jesus asks us to pray.

The Holy Spirit asks us to prevail.

God says prepare, for my presence.

 *J. Lee Grady's Fearless Daughters of the Bible

 Powerful words. Powerful women. The presence of a powerful God.