Today’s Gospel reveals an intensely human and real side to Joseph. Like in story of the Magi, this account of Joseph trying to understand Mary’s pregnancy has a deeper message to discover.
We can see the elements, Mary is pregnant with Jesus but she is engaged, betrothed to Joseph—a righteous man.
The law was clear at this time and we can find it in Leviticus. That law will appear again in the Gospel of John. It is in the city a couple caught in adultery should be stoned to death. In the rural areas the woman can be put away because there are not a lot of people around in case they were not dealing with adultery but the man forcing himself on the woman. It is assumed the woman screamed for help but no one was around to hear her. The woman, therefore, would not be responsible.
Joseph, probably considering that Mary had become delusional, decides that he will put her away because that is what the law allows since they lived in the rural areas. So, he is following the law which is what righteous people do.
The dream happens and he decides that he will take the unusual step of taking her as his wife and adopting the forthcoming child because he understands at that point that she is speaking the truth.
Let us look at the deeper truth. This is a theme endemic in the New Testament more than in the Old Testament.
What is the conflict here: It is do I follow the letter of the written law or do I follow the law of love. How do I determine which to follow: the latter or the former. The answer is that in prayer we learn which of the decisions is rooted in the deeper law of love of God and neighbor.
Joseph takes the powerful step of listening to God in the dream and then responding by obeying the angel of the Lord, which is actually obeying the Lord Himself. This is through the action of the Holy Spirit.
Now let us look more deeply.
The Holy Spirit overshadows Mary, sends an angel to calm Joseph, appears at Jesus’ Baptism, leads Jesus to encounter the Devil. He then appears at Pentecost and bestows his power upon the Apostles. That same spirit empowers us at our own baptism and confirmation.
This spirit is the wisdom of God enlightening Joseph, Mary and the followers of Jesus.
So, what does this have to do with Joseph, his anxiety or for that matter us on this fourth Sunday of Advent.
Everything and it is the key issue in our faith.
One of the greatest transformations that happens at this moment is a change from our subservience to the law, to our listening to the word of God.
Remember Jesus is the Word of God, so, He is the embodiment of the wisdom, love, truth, holiness, goodness that is God.
Jesus is the second person of the Trinity and is God just as much as the Father and the Holy Spirit. To whom would you listen if you were confronted with a conflict between what the law says and what Jesus says. You would listen to Jesus because Jesus is the law. What he communicates is the meaning of the law, not just the letter of the law. He is the fulfilment of the law. If you obey Jesus then you obey the whole point of the law.
Jesus commands us to act in love of God and neighbor, because Jesus does exactly the same thing.
Many times throughout Matthew, we will see a contradiction between the letter and the spirit of the law and Jesus will always say follow the spirit without disobeying the letter.
Joseph was caught up with the letter of the law, because Mary was in the rural area so she had to be put away. Joseph left out one other option—What if Mary was speaking the truth? In that case, he needed to take the Mary as his wife as he already planned and as the Holy Spirit planned for him.
If there is a set of letters I really do not like, it is WWJD? What Would Jesus Do? Why? Because first it appears that Jesus is in the past which He is not. I could change that easily to WWSD and still do the right thing in civil circles. The S there is for Socrates.
The better response is more a prayer—Jesus, what do you want me to do? Because Jesus is the living God. Clearly, Joseph a righteous man, a man of prayer would have in fact prayed seeking an answer. Can we assume that he may have also consulted with Zechariah and Elizabeth who would have guided him all through the action of the Holy Spirit.
Wednesday is Christmas and one of the more common themes of humor is the tension that may happen at family gatherings. How are you going to respond to any such tension that may come up over political issues over moral issues or over other issues. Are you going to stand on the letter of the law or are you going to stand more in the spirit of the law that fulfills it and does not undermine it.
How are you going to respond to that cousin who comes over and hates the Catholic Church rejects God and quotes everything he learned from his political science teacher who now works for a political party that you reject?
Why did Joseph obey his dream, because he began to see that what was happening was bigger than the law. What we stand for is bigger than politics and the conflict between secular and Catholic morality.
Christmas is all about the beginning of the final stages of salvation history and God invited us to be part of His promised mission to bring salvation to all who seek it. We do that by seeking to respond in the most loving way possible as ambassadors to the kingdom of God. This does not mean that we need to accept the arguments of those who disagree with us, but we do not have to accept any invitation to argue either. We first have to respond in charity. When the times comes in the future, if it does, to discuss differences speak then but not at Christmas.
Remember, we follow a higher law with a higher purpose—the salvation of every person at your table whether that be on Christmas eve or Christmas day. Joseph decided to obey the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and trust he will sort if out. What will you do?
- What are some do’s of living our faith in today’s modern world?
- What are some don’ts of living our faith in today’s modern world?
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