Stir up your power, O Lord,
and with great might come among us; and, because
we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy
speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you
and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen
This week of rejoicing in the power of God is a good time to
look at the man who played an important part in the coming of Jesus. Joseph of
Nazareth is often overlooked because his is a supporting role. He is not one of
the stars of the show. However, Joseph had a difficult decision when faced with
Mary’s announcement of her pregnancy. (My novel, Mary, My Love, explores the whole Nativity story from Joseph's viewpoint.)
Now the birth of Jesus
the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged
to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from
the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling
to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.
(Matthew 1:18-25)
In Joseph’s time, a betrothal was just as binding as the
actual marriage and infidelity was punishable by stoning, if the man demanded
it. The other options were to marry the woman (and admit that you had slept
together before the marriage), or to quietly divorce her. This was what Joseph
decided to do.
Was there a time when you were torn between what you thought
you should do and what society was urging you to do?
Tomorrow we'll see how God changed Joseph's mind.
Tomorrow we'll see how God changed Joseph's mind.
