CHRISTMAS REFLECTIONS - Joseph

As Christmas approaches I am drawn to reflect on the characters in the birth narrative of Jesus. I wonder what must the events of the Christmas story have been like for the ones who lived it. What would the shepherds have felt seeing the sky fully illuminated by an angelic choir. The wise men from the east, whose reading of the stars told them a king was born, would have had a fascinating story. Mary gets a lot of attention this time of year, for obvious reasons - she carried God in her womb. But, I start by wondering about Joseph, Jesus' step-father.

There is one verse in Matthew's edition of the events that stands out: chapter 1 verse 19. 

Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

Joseph was a righteous man but can you imagine committing to marry a woman who had become pregnant with a child that was not yours?! He was a man who was conscientious about his faith and about God but can you imagine marrying a woman who was known to be unfaithful? If Joseph had married her he would have been tacitly admitting his own guilt, because if you marry a pregnant woman it is not because she is carrying someone else's child, it is because she is carrying yours. 

Mary brought shame and dishonor to Joseph and ruin to his reputation. In the middle eastern world of the first century, adultery was grounds for the woman to be stoned to death; a husband could have his wife executed for this. We are not immune to being talked bad about, or shamed in front of friends. Think about the headlines we have seen in the past year about someone who sought out revenge for one reason or another. We are not so far removed from the feelings that Joseph would have felt, betrayed by the one he loves. We've been stabbed in the back, we've been blindsided by harsh news that came from someone we were supposed to be able to trust. We have probably thought about giving that person or group of people a taste of there own medicine. "They hurt me this way, let's see how they like it when..." fill in the rest. The full weight of the law could have led to the stoning death of Jesus’ mother Mary, at the very least a public divorce would have shamed Mary and her family and she likely would have never married. We could not fault Joseph for taking that route if he chose to do so.  

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But Joseph was unwilling to expose her to the disgrace of public divorce, so he chose a quiet yet lawful way. I believe it is one of the reason's God chose Joseph to be a step-father to God the Son. Joseph finds a way to remain faithful to the rigidity of the law while expressing compassion towards Mary. I may have chosen to find some way to get back at the person who wronged me, who embarrassed me, who ruined my reputation - Joseph chooses to quietly divorce Mary and salvage her reputation. Ultimately he chooses to marry her, accepting the embarrassment and shame of a premarital pregnancy. He accepted the shame as his own even though he had nothing to do with it.

Can you imagine being a son, and hearing this story as you grow up? I seem to remember a story of a woman caught in the act of adultery, recorded in John's edition of the gospel. Jesus, just as his father, shows compassion and does not seek to embarrass her publicly. He stands with her in her shame and disgrace. Jesus looked beyond the circumstance to show a person is more than the sum of their choices, as did his father Joseph. 

Just a short time later Jesus would do it again... from a cross. The cross is where he remained faithful to the rigidity of the law while expressing compassion towards all humanity. He chose to accept the shame of death as a common criminal on charges that were not true to not just stand with us in our shame but to take our place. Jesus' journey to and sacrifice on the cross began with the courageous choice of a man named Joseph. A man who defied convention, who chose the harder road, and modeled compassion to a young wife and son who would go on to change world in the same way.

Just a meandering thought... 

MOTHER

I have a mother-in-law who is a mother, a sister who is a mother, a mother who is a mother, and a wife who is a mother. They each bring their own identity to - "mother". They each show in their own way what it is to be a mom. Here are some reflections:

My Mother-in-Law: I suppose not everyone can say nice things about their in-laws without lying. Fortunately for me I can say nice things and be honest. Maria is one of the rare ones who is at good listener and easy to talk to, but is also easy to listen to. Maria is a great cook which I am thankful for because it rubbed off on her daughter, my wife. Maria also watches over Samuel three days every two weeks which is a huge sacrifice on her part and is a huge help to us. She says she does not mind and, well, I believe her because, look at the little guy she is watching for that time. She loves the outdoors and is very active which has also rubbed of on her daughter:) Maria is selfless and giving.

My Sister: Okay so as a kid one of her nicknames was "tiny tornado" that gives you an idea as to how her two daughters, my two nieces, like to play. Brooke loves to play with her kids, record them when they do silly things and then post the video to face book. Brooke walks side by side with with her kids. She is the kind of mom who would get out the coloring books for her kids and instead of using it to keep them occupied, she would grab some crayons and start coloring with them. Brooke always wants to spend time with her kids.

My mother: Well, I moved out of the house a while back, but being away for years now I look back and see a few things that I really appreciate. I appreciated the way the house smelled around the big family holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. I appreciated the way the house was decorated (even though we all participated mom was the director of decorations) I appreciated the way my mom would wait on us when we were sick. I still remember getting the small 13inch black and white T.V. for the day when I was home sick. It was a great excuse to watch all the junk on T.V. when I was not really allowed to. I appreciate that my mom chauffeured me around to Soccer, little league baseball, football, and church events. Those are just a few reasons, but altogether she is the reason I have warm and loving feelings and thoughts when I think of the word "mother".

My Wife: So... I am not exactly sure how she does it, but this woman has super powers to rival those of Superman. She gave birth to an amazing baby boy, and six weeks later went back to work to help cover some bills, and was back to work full-time in three months. Working minimum forty hours per week, while at the same time keeping track of a quickly growing bundle of energy who is our son, is a feat of epic proportions. Not only that, but her occasional "experiments" in the kitchen end up like four course works of art - Picasso on a plate!

Her water broke while she was helping that cable guys set up internet in her office... yeah, she was helping them; she gave birth to a baby with no pain medication! In the middle of a snowstorm she straps on our son in a baby carrier and decides to see if she wants to pick up snowshoeing by throwing on my snowshoes and slogging through two feet of snow (while I was shoveling out the car). She decides that snowshoeing is not for her so instead picks up cross-country skiing. The name Sara means princess, but she is really more of a warrior princess. Probably the biggest deal about this new mom; the reason she is a warrior princess, is that she puts up with me and my nutty schedule. I am telling you... super powers...

Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers in my life. We would not be here if it were not for you...