[Propertalk] FW: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Advent 4A: "Joseph, the Forgotten Man"

[joeparrish]

Forwarded: Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
-------- Original message --------From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org> Date: 21/12/2019  9:12 pm  (GMT-05:00) To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org> Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Advent 4A: "Joseph, the Forgotten Man" 

Dear Friends,

 

This Sunday’s sermon is
entitled “Joseph- the Forgotten Man” or “Are You Ready?” and is based on the
gospel (Matthew 1:18-25).  Here it is:  

 

This
fourth Sunday of Advent, we usually focus on the Virgin Mary, mother of our
Lord.  Today, however, we are going to
cast our gaze on the forgotten man- Joseph, Jesus’ stepfather.  His life probably started out just fine.  The future looked promising.  He had a trade, carpentry, which he probably
loved.  You know the kind of person who
can disappear into the garage and work for hours on a project.  If he lived now, he’d probably be that kind
of person- fixing someone’s car or checking out why the washer won’t work.  You know- someone who quietly does what needs
to be done and fixes what needs to be fixed. 
It wasn’t just his trade that made his future look promising, his love
life had possibilities too.  When Joseph
and Mary were both young children, they were chosen as potential marriage
partners by their parents.  That’s how
they did in those days.  This was the
first step in the process that would end in a wedding.  So you can imagine that Joseph watched his
intended as she developed from a little child into a pretty girl and then into
a blossoming teen-ager.  Then when she
was anywhere from twelve to fifteen years old, they were ready to take the next
step toward their intended marriage- betrothal. 
This was the time when the young couple made it publicly known that they
agreed with their parents’ choice for a marriage partner.  This was an extremely serious step.  While they waited, families got to know each
other better, temple records were checked to be sure no one was about to marry
a close relative, and the dowry was negotiated. 
Once the betrothal was announced, even though a sexual relationship
between them was still not allowed, only a divorce could separate the
couple.  The final step was coming up- it
would be the wedding itself, when Joseph paraded his beloved Mary through the
town from her father’s house to his house for the ceremony and the consummation
of the marriage.  So here was Joseph
looking forward to a wonderful life with Mary when the center was blown out of
his world.  His own, his intended wife,
his dearly betrothed Mary came and told him she was pregnant, and by the Holy
Spirit yet, as if he was supposed to believe that.  You can imagine his thoughts!  How could she?  He had trusted her and loved her so.  And now this! 
What would his family and friends say? 
Would they think him less of a man because she had secretly chosen
someone else over him?  And what about
her- why hadn’t she told him she wanted someone else?  Even that would be better than this.

 

The
next problem Joseph faced was what to do. 
The law offered two options. 
(1)  He could publicly bring her
to trial and have her stoned.  That would
at least show her not to take advantage of him. 
At least she would feel the pain she had inflicted on him.  (2) 
His other legal option was to privately divorce her- just let two of his
friends be witnesses.  He decided on the
second choice and went to bed, only to dream. 
In his dream, an angel spoke to him, telling him that this child was
indeed of the Holy Spirit- so he should accept him as his own and name him
Jesus, because he would save his people from their sins.  When Joseph awoke, he did the right thing,
the compassionate choice, not the legal choice. 
He acted as if nothing had happened and took Mary as his wife.  We know the rest of the story.  The child Mary was carrying was Jesus, God’s
son, the messiah who would indeed save all humanity from our sins.

 

We
can derive four life lessons from Joseph. 


 


 First, let your heart guide your head.  Don’t be too quick to “show them” or
     “throw the book at them.”  Just
     because you have the right to do something does not mean you should do
     it.  Take the loving approach.  Do what is best for everyone, not just
     what makes you feel better.  Resolve
     the problem- don’t get even.


 


 Second, don’t be arrogant.  Don’t assume you know what really
     happened- what was in someone’s head or heart.  Only God knows what really happened,
     what someone was thinking, or why they did what they did.  I remember my sixth grade graduation
     picnic at Palmer Park in Detroit. 
     Kids were playing in the water fountain.  Someone pushed my face in the water, and
     I came up sputtering and anxious for revenge.  I was sure I knew who did it, and he was
     going to pay for making me look like a fool in front of my friends.  When he went to get a drink, I gave his
     face a mighty push, chipped his tooth, and to my horror discovered I got
     the wrong person!  No one but God
     knows what really happened.  That’s
     probably why the Bible cautions, “’Vengeance is mine; I will repay,’ says the
     Lord.”  If Joseph had assumed his
     dream was really a nightmare, a devil-trick, his mind playing tricks on
     him, he also would have assumed Mary had actually been unfaithful to
     him.  In his grief and rage, if he
     had had Mary stoned to death, what a tragedy.  It looks like God chose Joseph as
     carefully as God chose Mary- either one could have destroyed (or at least
     postponed) salvation history.


 


 Third, pay attention to those quiet
     people.  You know the saying,
     “Still waters run deep.”  Some of
     the greatest wisdom comes from just such people.  Now, if you’re one of those people-
     speak up.  God will hold you
     responsible for the things you DIDN’T say that would have helped others.  If you’re not one of those people, be
     understanding and don’t write them off. 
     You may be writing off a Joseph.


 


 Finally, watch what you say and do,
     because a little one is most likely watching you.  Did you notice how often Joseph put
     “Love God, love neighbor” over the letter of the law?  You know who was watching him, don’t
     you- the little guy who grew up to be a man who healed on the Sabbath and
     said that the Sabbath was made for people, not the other way around.  Sounds a lot like Joseph’s influence,
     doesn’t it.  Also, did you notice
     how often Jesus referred to God as his Father or Dad?  This wouldn’t have worked too well if
     Joseph had been alcoholic, abusive, or a womanizer.


 

So,
are you ready for HIM Tuesday night?  Take
Joseph as your example, and get ready.

 

For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American
wisdom statements are posted on our parish’s web site under “Sermons &
Stuff”. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org
.

 

Blessed preaching,

Judy Boli

St. Paul's Episcopal Church

Saginaw, Michigan





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