Thomas E. Myers

December 23, 2007

4th Sunday of Advent

Psalm 80: 1 – 7; 17 – 19

¹ Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock!

You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth  ² before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.  Stir up your might, and come to save us!

³ Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

⁴ O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?

⁵ You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure.  ⁶ You make us the scorn of our neighbors; our enemies laugh among themselves.  ⁷ Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

¹⁷ But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself.  ¹⁸ Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name.  ¹⁹ Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Isaiah 7: 10 – 16

¹⁰ Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying, ¹¹ Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. ¹² But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test. ¹³ Then Isaiah said: “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? ¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. ¹⁵ He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. ¹⁶ For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.

Matthew 1:18 - 25

¹⁸ 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. ¹⁹ Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. ²⁰ 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. ²¹ She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” ²² All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

²³ “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.”

²⁴ When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, ²⁵ but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

“Let your Face Shine, O God”

“Emmanuel”, Matthew explains, means “God is with us.”  While Isaiah does not explain the meaning of “Immanuel,” it is clearly a positive and much needed sign of assurance to King Ahaz.  The word of God that came to Ahaz by the prophet Isaiah was a word assuring him that God would uphold the covenant.  The prophet provided a sign for the hesitant king: the young woman will have a son.  Neither the king nor Jerusalem need fear for “God is with us.”  God’s face of favor was shinning upon him, because God is faithful to the promise.

Unfortunately, Ahaz, presented with the choice to trust in a military solution to the rising threats around Judah or to trust in God, casts his lot with the military option, and made an alliance with the King of Assyria, giving the temple’s gold to the Assyrian King.  Despite God’s words of assurance, Ahaz proved faithless and disobedient, caving into his irrational fears.

In the gospel “Joseph, son of David,” provides a contrast to Ahaz.  Joseph’s dilemma is personal not political, marital not military: his fiancée is found to be with child at a not so opportune moment.  Joseph was confused and anxious about his role in the story of the birth of Jesus.  There was a lot to be afraid about for Joseph in this story.  Yet Joseph quietly took his place and faithfully played his role, letting his faith shine, as the Angel of the Lord give him direction.

Many of us are disciples who play our roles much like Joseph.  We try to keep those irrational fears in their place.  We have faithfully followed God, and God has not let us down.  We too are encouraged to be faithful, trusting in God.

“Don’t be afraid,” that’s what the angel said to Mary.  That’s the same message that the angel said to Joseph.  Funny, that’s what the prophet told Ahaz also.  Don’t be afraid, God’s love is shinning upon you.  But Ahaz wouldn’t listen.

The words are important.  God is with you.  Don’t be afraid! 

Joseph, like Mary, found himself cast into the center of a great drama that could turn out to be a great tragedy.  He did not ask to be in the role of father to Jesus, Emmanuel, the anointed one, the Son of God.  And yet, there he was.

It’s curious that the church has historically focused so much on Mary but so little on Joseph.  He played an important role in realizing the promises of God that are fulfilled in the Christ.  Matthew is the Gospel that gives Joseph the greatest attention in the story of Jesus.  And yet even Matthew tells us little about who Joseph was, what Joseph did, and not one single word about what Joseph said.

Joseph was silent, essentially supportive and behind the scenes in the story.  We hear very little about him in the rest of the Gospel.  We don’t even hear of his death.  He is not present with Mary at Jesus’ crucifixion.  But Joseph played an important role.  He was fearless, solid, loving and kind.  Jesus would not be so self secure if Joseph had not been a supportive influence. 

Here, on this last Sunday of Advent, this Sunday before our celebration of the Feast of the Nativity, let us focus upon Joseph as a model of discipleship and fatherhood.  

Some of you did not have a very positive paternal role model.  So take advantage of those role models around you.  Benefit from the loving church family that surrounds you.

Some parents serve God by doing courageous things for God’s Realm.  My Uncle Bob was one of those who served God by doing courageous things.  He was always serving on important church committees and gave the church much needed wisdom and guidance.  And my uncle Bruce served as the treasurer for the Presbytery in Southern Washington.  Then there are those who serve God through their teaching, like my uncle Bob’s dad, Rev. Logsdon, who was an icon for United Methodism in the Pacific Northwest during the merger.  His teaching and guidance served us all well through those difficult, challenging, and exciting times.  And then there are those who serve God by simply standing with God, silently, courageously, being the parents who provide nurturing homes, good moral examples, and stability for their children.

It’s easy to overlook the Josephs among us and their contributions to God’s Realm.  Joseph was just the village carpenter, provider for the family and moral and spiritual guide for Jesus.  “Measure twice, cut once,” was his motto.  All lines straight and exact was what Joseph lived by.  He was the perfect example and role model for Jesus.

And yet, when God intruded into Joseph’s world, well, things got a bit messy.  It was not going to be a simple matter to be the father of Emmanuel.  The Angels warned him of what was to come, and Joseph responded as any protective father would.  He took his wife now “great with child” on his donkey and made the long journey down the rocky road to Bethlehem, the city of his ancestors.  Then, when warned again, they headed to Egypt.

Joseph, the carpenter, took his place in God’s story, allowing himself and his family to be led by the Angel of God to an uncertain future.  There in Egypt, quietly, they made a home together, watching the baby grow, and learn.  And, after being informed again, they returned home, to Nazareth, and worked on boats along the Sea of Galilee, after Herod’s death.  God’s love shined on Joseph, the faithful carpenter from Nazareth.

We’re getting ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  Our celebration of the incarnation is about to begin.  Will we find our place on that stage as supporting parents and grandparents, adopted parents or extended church family members?  Even when we don’t exactly know where it might lead us, or what it might demand from us?

Joseph was a good role model for us.  He was not a perfect person...  But he was faithful and he was willing to put aside his fear, and allow God’s face to shine upon him.

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