18 The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn't know that.) 19 Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced. 20 While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God's angel spoke in the dream: "Joseph, son of David, don't hesitate to get married. Mary's pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God's Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. 21 She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus - 'God saves' - because he will save his people from their sins." 22 This would bring the prophet's embryonic sermon to full term: 23 Watch for this - a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son; They will name him Emmanuel (Hebrew for "God is with us"). 24 Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what God's angel commanded in the dream: He married Mary. 25 But he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the baby Jesus.
The Christmas story as told by Matthew is a reminder that all things were not easy for Joseph or Mary. It is no small thing to believe that “that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”
Joseph was a special sort of person who risked much on a dream and on a willingness to be used by God.
He did not reject Mary openly; he did not even “put her away secretly”, but took her as his wife and became a part of the greatest drama to ever happen - the birth of Immanuel - God with us!
As we celebrate Christmas the question looms - Is it possible God would do something through us, like God did through Joseph, if we only dared dream enough and risk enough?
“It is Christmas every time you
let God love others through you... yes,
it is Christmas every time you smile at
your brother and offer him your hand."
Mother Teresa
Prayer thought for the week: “Lord, let Christmas come through me,
hidden ‘in, under, and with’ my words and actions this week, and every week.”
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