In
the Christmas story, a combination of Luke and Matthew, we usually hear about Mary
and the angel Gabriel,
Mary
visiting Elizabeth,
Mary
singing, then
Mary
and Joseph travelling for the census, and
the
baby being placed in a manger.
All
from Luke’s gospel.
We
don’t hear from Matthew, until we get to the coming of the Magi, and the young
family fleeing to Egypt.
But
today, we hear about the birth from Matthew’s gospel. You can see why Luke
predominates our Christmas storytelling, so much more action.
A little background on the rituals surrounding marriage at this
time. Mary and Joseph's betrothal is much more of a contract than what we
consider engagement to be, it was as if they were married just not yet living
together. Marriage was a two-stage process, the first stage the promise and
pledge, the second stage the celebration and moving in together.[i]
What is a righteous man to do? He finds his wife is pregnant with
a child that he knows is not his. Joseph sees only two options, to dissolve the
marriage quietly or to publicly accuse Mary. The second option, of publicly
accusing her would lead to her death and Joseph would have a hand in the
killing. To dissolve the marriage quietly means Joseph has not participated
directly in her death, but it leaves her in a very vulnerable position.[ii]
Joseph hadn't considered the third possibility, it was such an
absurd thought, that no righteous man would. Joseph didn't consider the
possibility of protecting Mary, and her child, and raising the child as his own.
That is,
until the dream,
when an angel appeared to Joseph and explained to him that Mary
was pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit and this child would save people
from their sins.
The passage we heard this morning is the entire birth narrative in
the gospel of Matthew. No shepherds, no journey to Bethlehem, no stable and
manger. Matthew does tell of the coming of the wise men, but this passage is
all we hear about his birth.
When we read the biblical text is important to note who is the
named, who speaks, and who acts in the scene.
Mary is barely mentioned, and the verbs are passive. It seems that
the action is happening around her:
– Mary had been engaged to Joseph
– she was found to be with child
Joseph gets a little more airplay, but he doesn't speak.
The speaking is done by the Angel.
I wonder how Joseph felt. Matthew records what was going on in
Joseph’s head, but what about his heart and his gut. I imagine a sense of
betrayal, disbelief, anger. How could she do this to me? What about our future?
But then, for Joseph, there is still a future. He can either publicly or
privately divorce Mary, but without Joseph she has no future.
I wonder when has God intervened in your life?
When has God sent a Joseph to you, or an angel?
In my experience it can be difficult to see where God is active in
our lives at the time.
Just as we think about Mary having a choice, in Luke’s gospel anyway,
Joseph also had a choice. He could leave Mary to the whims of the community, or
he could marry her and protect her and the child.
Jesus was born, our text today says nothing of the place, there is
no manger, and no angels singing at his birth. Jesus was born in scandalous
circumstances. Yet, Jesus was born, out of God’s love.
A quote: ‘Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a
conspiracy of love’[iii]
I wonder what the world would look like if we there was a
conspiracy of love,
if we looked at problems differently, and responded differently?
If we decided that love would win the day
Love like the love Jesus shows for each one of us.
What if we were obedient to God,
to the nudging of the Spirit within us,
to say hello,
to ring a friend,
to help a stranger?
What if love, rather than fear was the base for our response.
What are some alternatives for our living?
One idea that I like, that sounds completely crazy, is from a
short story by Robert Fulghum.
“Maybe we should develop a Crayola bomb as our next secret weapon.
A happiness weapon.
A beauty bomb.
And every time a crisis developed,
we would launch one.
It would explode high in the air - explode softly - and send
thousands, millions, of little parachutes into the air. Floating down to earth
- boxes of Crayolas. And we wouldn't go cheap, either - not little boxes of
eight. Boxes of sixty-four, with the sharpener built right in. With silver and
gold and copper, magenta and peach and lime, amber and umber and all the rest.
And people would smile and get a little funny look on their faces and cover the
world with imagination.” ― Robert Fulghum
During advent, we focus on themes of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.
These are things we can’t drop down to Woolies or Coles and put in
our shopping trolley. These come from within us, from our relationship with God
through Jesus.
But there are things we can do to increase Hope and Peace and Joy
and Love in the world.
To start with, we can be people who do not strip Hope and Peace
and Joy and Love from others.
By Not making fun of
people
Not judging people
Not Assuming we know
what is best for someone else
We can enhance Hope and Peace and Joy and Love in the world, by nurturing
it in our own lives, and being sources of Hope and Peace and Joy and Love for
those we meet.
By treating people with dignity and respect
By listening
Offering a smile, a welcoming wave.
In what ways can we be like Joseph, open to the nudges of the Holy
Spirit,
Willing to take a chance, to do the life-giving, if unconventional
thing.
In what ways can we infect the world with Hope and Peace and
Joy and Love?
[i]
https://www.facebook.com/notthatkindofchristian/photos/a.1028878097188376/1971575006252009/?type=3&theater
[iii] [i] Arland J. Hultgren, Working
Preacher
