Isaiah 7:10-14; 1 John 4:7-16; St Matthew 1:18-25
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
St Matthew calls him a just man. Its not the same as “a good guy.” It is that. But its more. St Joseph is a godly man. A wise man. He had no hubris. No excess. Even though he had been wronged and had the right, he would not shame St Mary. He would suffer the loss of his betrothed. Put her away quietly and suffer her shame in himself. St Joseph showed himself to be a Christian man in both confession and action.
Even the pagan philosophers would have approved. This was the wisest and best, the most decent and ideal course. No good comes from vengeance or making a scene. Bitter grudges hurt the soul. But an angel intervened. The Child came by the Holy Spirit, not by a man. Mary’s virginity, her loyalty, and her love for Joseph remained pure. It was not merely lip service. It was real. And things were not quite what they seemed. This Child is the Lord who saves His people from their sins. He is the Messiah. Immanuel.
Now if Joseph took the first news well and planned to act in an honorable way, then this news was that much tougher. For even then Joseph could have acted out his part. He could have put her away quietly and no one would have blamed him, not even God. Indeed, he still would have been considered a decent and honorable man. The angel did not tell him he had to take Mary as his wife. He was only told that he should not be afraid to take her. Whatever the gossips of Nazareth were saying, she had not been unfaithful.
Reality never stops gossip. Joseph knew that the gossip wasn’t true, but his shame, even though it was undeserved, remained. Even if the gossips heard the truth, were told it directly, they wouldn’t believe it. And if they said they believed it, gossips are always liars. They embellish their tales even when they know that it is false. That is the first point: Even though he had a clear conscience before God, Joseph was going to be shamed no matter what. This is what love does.
Yet even though Mary was faithful, it can’t be denied that God took Mary from Joseph. He conceived in her womb. It is possible, as most of the Church Fathers assumed, that Joseph was never allowed to consummate the marriage of have any children by Mary. This seems untenable given the textual evidence.
In any case, Mary had been taken from him. Joseph would never be her first or deepest love. Again, he was legally and morally free to walk away and simply know in his heart that she hadn’t betrayed him; that she and he were both honorable no matter how it appeared. That is the second point: Even as there is not escape from shame, so also there is no escape from the Cross. This is what love does. God is to blame.
But Joseph had wisdom, not just beyond caring about the opinions of men, but also beyond that of the pagan philosophers. True wisdom, that which begins with the fear of the Lord, sometimes directs us to do things that the wise of this world label as foolish, impractical, and extreme. Like dying rather than pretending to pray to Caesar. Or like taking a wife pregnant with someone else’s Child.
In faith, Joseph was obedient to the Lord’s will. He clung to the tenacious hope that God is good and He works all things together for good for those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose (Rm 8:28). Of his own sanctified will, Joseph took up the guardianship of both Mary and the Messiah. In doing so he took up a cross like few men have ever known. The dirty minds and petty men of this world snickered at him and his bride all of their days. They called the Son of God a bastard. When Joseph went to Bethlehem for the census there was no room for his family in the homes of his family members and friends who lived there. From there he was forced into exile in Egypt.
And what of James and the other sons and daughters? What must they have thought? Something is off about that oldest sibling, Jesus. He never seemed to do any wrong. He was always obedient, generous, kind. He made them look bad. And He caused and required such great sacrifice and expense for anyone who came near to Him. He may have loved His neighbor as Himself, been the perfect son and brother, but His presence is always dangerous and always brings shame and suffering. It was not just Mary’s heart that was pierced, then or now. This is what love does.
This is the cost of Wisdom and the reason that it is so uncommon. Men on their own cannot obtain it. When they glimpse it, they think it is foolish. Not Socrates, Plato, or Aristotle, none of the pagan philosophers then or now, could boast of the wisdom and self-control of simple Joseph. He was a man who knew himself and his limitations. He was a man of moderation and decency.
Above all, he was a man who trusted that God works all things together for good and that God would provide. He knew the mercy that endures forever. Mercy that has joined itself to the flesh of men to be a sacrifice for sin and a beacon of light and life in this dark and dying world. Joseph knew what it was to belong to someone else and to trust in His goodness and providence. Joseph prayed the psalms. He knew that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding (Ps 111:10).
The virtue you see exemplified in Joseph is, in fact, love. Not sentiment. Not emotion. But true love as St John describes. Joseph didn’t act merely for the sake of honor or for what was wise. What likely scared Joseph more than the possibility of Mary’s moral weakness, was the idea that she did not love him, did not want him. He thought he lost her to another man. He was broken hearted, but he would not stand in the way of her happiness. He would quietly end the engagement so that she could move on, even if he was unable to.
In Joseph you are given an example not only of honor, but a willingness to sacrifice born of love, born of God. Joseph knew God. In faith he loved God. He loved Mary. When the angel told him, Do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit, he was freed. This meant that she had not been unfaithful; she still loved him. He could still have her.
And Joseph loved Jesus also. An adopted son is no less a son than a biological son. Don’t feel bad for him. Joseph got what he wanted. He got to marry and live with Mary until he died. He guarded and protected, love and served, provided for and waited upon her and upon Jesus for the rest of his life. It was in love that Joseph was willing to take up that cross and be the Lord’s guardian. He counted her worthy of the cost, even as God so counted him.
In this way, the Lord provided a father and guardian for Mary and for her Baby. That this Baby might forth for the love of evil men like us and buy us out of captivity with His death and pour His life into us through His resurrection, that the Holy Spirit would be given us and we abide in Him and He in us. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Joseph was exactly right: the Lord works all things together for good for those who love Him. Merry Christmas.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
St Matthew calls him a just man. Its not the same as “a good guy.” It is that. But its more. St Joseph is a godly man. A wise man. He had no hubris. No excess. Even though he had been wronged and had the right, he would not shame St Mary. He would suffer the loss of his betrothed. Put her away quietly and suffer her shame in himself. St Joseph showed himself to be a Christian man in both confession and action.
Even the pagan philosophers would have approved. This was the wisest and best, the most decent and ideal course. No good comes from vengeance or making a scene. Bitter grudges hurt the soul. But an angel intervened. The Child came by the Holy Spirit, not by a man. Mary’s virginity, her loyalty, and her love for Joseph remained pure. It was not merely lip service. It was real. And things were not quite what they seemed. This Child is the Lord who saves His people from their sins. He is the Messiah. Immanuel.
Now if Joseph took the first news well and planned to act in an honorable way, then this news was that much tougher. For even then Joseph could have acted out his part. He could have put her away quietly and no one would have blamed him, not even God. Indeed, he still would have been considered a decent and honorable man. The angel did not tell him he had to take Mary as his wife. He was only told that he should not be afraid to take her. Whatever the gossips of Nazareth were saying, she had not been unfaithful.
Reality never stops gossip. Joseph knew that the gossip wasn’t true, but his shame, even though it was undeserved, remained. Even if the gossips heard the truth, were told it directly, they wouldn’t believe it. And if they said they believed it, gossips are always liars. They embellish their tales even when they know that it is false. That is the first point: Even though he had a clear conscience before God, Joseph was going to be shamed no matter what. This is what love does.
Yet even though Mary was faithful, it can’t be denied that God took Mary from Joseph. He conceived in her womb. It is possible, as most of the Church Fathers assumed, that Joseph was never allowed to consummate the marriage of have any children by Mary. This seems untenable given the textual evidence.
In any case, Mary had been taken from him. Joseph would never be her first or deepest love. Again, he was legally and morally free to walk away and simply know in his heart that she hadn’t betrayed him; that she and he were both honorable no matter how it appeared. That is the second point: Even as there is not escape from shame, so also there is no escape from the Cross. This is what love does. God is to blame.
But Joseph had wisdom, not just beyond caring about the opinions of men, but also beyond that of the pagan philosophers. True wisdom, that which begins with the fear of the Lord, sometimes directs us to do things that the wise of this world label as foolish, impractical, and extreme. Like dying rather than pretending to pray to Caesar. Or like taking a wife pregnant with someone else’s Child.
In faith, Joseph was obedient to the Lord’s will. He clung to the tenacious hope that God is good and He works all things together for good for those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose (Rm 8:28). Of his own sanctified will, Joseph took up the guardianship of both Mary and the Messiah. In doing so he took up a cross like few men have ever known. The dirty minds and petty men of this world snickered at him and his bride all of their days. They called the Son of God a bastard. When Joseph went to Bethlehem for the census there was no room for his family in the homes of his family members and friends who lived there. From there he was forced into exile in Egypt.
And what of James and the other sons and daughters? What must they have thought? Something is off about that oldest sibling, Jesus. He never seemed to do any wrong. He was always obedient, generous, kind. He made them look bad. And He caused and required such great sacrifice and expense for anyone who came near to Him. He may have loved His neighbor as Himself, been the perfect son and brother, but His presence is always dangerous and always brings shame and suffering. It was not just Mary’s heart that was pierced, then or now. This is what love does.
This is the cost of Wisdom and the reason that it is so uncommon. Men on their own cannot obtain it. When they glimpse it, they think it is foolish. Not Socrates, Plato, or Aristotle, none of the pagan philosophers then or now, could boast of the wisdom and self-control of simple Joseph. He was a man who knew himself and his limitations. He was a man of moderation and decency.
Above all, he was a man who trusted that God works all things together for good and that God would provide. He knew the mercy that endures forever. Mercy that has joined itself to the flesh of men to be a sacrifice for sin and a beacon of light and life in this dark and dying world. Joseph knew what it was to belong to someone else and to trust in His goodness and providence. Joseph prayed the psalms. He knew that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding (Ps 111:10).
The virtue you see exemplified in Joseph is, in fact, love. Not sentiment. Not emotion. But true love as St John describes. Joseph didn’t act merely for the sake of honor or for what was wise. What likely scared Joseph more than the possibility of Mary’s moral weakness, was the idea that she did not love him, did not want him. He thought he lost her to another man. He was broken hearted, but he would not stand in the way of her happiness. He would quietly end the engagement so that she could move on, even if he was unable to.
In Joseph you are given an example not only of honor, but a willingness to sacrifice born of love, born of God. Joseph knew God. In faith he loved God. He loved Mary. When the angel told him, Do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit, he was freed. This meant that she had not been unfaithful; she still loved him. He could still have her.
And Joseph loved Jesus also. An adopted son is no less a son than a biological son. Don’t feel bad for him. Joseph got what he wanted. He got to marry and live with Mary until he died. He guarded and protected, love and served, provided for and waited upon her and upon Jesus for the rest of his life. It was in love that Joseph was willing to take up that cross and be the Lord’s guardian. He counted her worthy of the cost, even as God so counted him.
In this way, the Lord provided a father and guardian for Mary and for her Baby. That this Baby might forth for the love of evil men like us and buy us out of captivity with His death and pour His life into us through His resurrection, that the Holy Spirit would be given us and we abide in Him and He in us. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Joseph was exactly right: the Lord works all things together for good for those who love Him. Merry Christmas.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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