“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. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.” Matthew 1:18-21, 24-25
The theme for the fourth and final week of Advent is love. Joseph’s place in this story is certainly one of love. Engaged to be married he finds out his bride to be is already pregnant. Heartbroken but still in love, he decides to quietly let Mary go instead of publicly disgracing her as would have been his right. After a visit from an angel, Joseph acts out of love. Joseph’s love for God and his love for Mary converged into his decision to take Mary as his wife after all and to welcome God’s own son as his own son. That decision to love lives on today as we wait for the baby to be born.
Action: Remind someone that you love them by doing something kind today.
Prayer: God of love, may everything I say and do become an expression of your love. Amen.