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The Advent text for this last Sunday before Christmas involves somebody who gets little press during Christmas, and we don’t read about him at all after the story of the boy Jesus getting lost at the Temple. But if there is anyone who deserves a pat on the back for his trust, it’s gotta be Joseph.
In the text for this week (Matthew 1:18-25), we read this whole story so easily, but let’s remember that Joseph had to live this story before it reads so well to us. I wonder how Joseph had first heard the news, that his fiancée was pregnant? I wonder if he had walked into the poolroom and heard the guys talking, and that’s how he found out? Or maybe his momma had heard the news from Mary’s momma, and she broke the news to her son? No matter how Joseph found out the news, it had to have left him heart-broken, mad, maybe even a bit desirous of revenge for what Mary had done. My guess is that before all this news broke, Joseph had been dreaming of some big plans for his wife and him. Maybe he had already spotted that nice starter home down the block, maybe he was already figuring out how to ask his boss for a raise when babies would come along…. But now Joseph’s thought about “baby” was anything but joyful.
But then Joseph had a dream….My, how things change.
You got any thoughts on this? I’d love to read them.
