From the Deacon’s Desk 12/22/19
Dear Friends:
I can’t believe I’m already writing an article for the 4th Sunday of Advent. The beautiful season of Advent has gone by so quickly. I hope that each of you have spent some time trying to develop a more meaningful relationship with God. After all that’s what Advent and Lent are all about. Truthfully that’s what our lives are all about. We should be trying every living moment to increase our knowledge and love of God.
Today’s Gospel reading is from Matthew 1:18-24. It’s a very short reading but it really packs a wallop. Mary is betrothed to Joseph and before they lived together she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph was a good man. He had every right to have Mary stoned to death. Joseph refuses to allow that to happen. He decides to divorce her quietly hoping that no harm will come to her or her baby. As you see in the reading, Joseph was a dreamer. “That night an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and said ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.’ “
When Joseph awoke the next morning he did as the angel had asked him and took his wife into his home. I don’t know for sure, but I bet Joseph never mentioned any of this to Mary. He probably didn’t understand it himself but he knew that Samuel’s prophecy is about to be fulfilled in Jesus Christ. “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”
Joseph was an incredibly brave man and Mary an incredibly brave woman. God is not asking us to do what he asked Joseph and Mary to do. He is asking us to find our way to him. So spend a little time just listening carefully to hear what he has to say to us. That’s how we’ll learn to know and love God. What better time than today to start on that journey!
Peace and All Good!
Deacon Jim