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.
