“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.”
The great Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton is said to have run an ad in a newspaper that received over 5,000 responses. “Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in event of success.” The probability of failure, the challenges ahead, the possibility of glory, all seem to have inspired courage and generosity in many hearts. In St. Joseph, today’s Gospel shows us a different kind of courageous and generous response.
“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.”
The annunciation of the entrance of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity into human history is well documented. We hear from the Gospel about Mary’s troubled heart, her pondering what sort of greeting the angel has just given her, the back and forth she has with Gabriel, and her trust-filled consent to God’s plan. In many ways Mary models a prayerful and contemplative approach to God. Like Mary, we can ask questions, we can engage the Lord in conversation, we can ponder and turn things over. Ultimately, we want our response to whatever God asks to be a resounding yes.
While we can learn much from the Blessed Mother, there is another dimension of our human experience that deserves some attention. Contemplation of God’s mysteries and discernment of God’s holy Will ought to lead us to some concrete action. Enter St. Joseph. Without any doubt, Joseph is blindsided by the news that Mary is with child. Because he is righteous, a good man – and in the Scriptures, we should note, the word “righteous” is applied to those who follow God’s law and who live in regular contact with the Lord – Joseph is ready to both follow the law, and to protect Mary. To divorce her quietly means to take on himself the reputation of one who abandons his responsibilities, who unjustly leaves his wife. He is ready to look bad for her sake. Nevertheless, hearing the angel’s message, Joseph changes course without hesitation.
“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.”
The angel promises nothing to Joseph, save what has already been promised by the prophets; the child is the Messiah, Emmanuel, God-with-us. Joseph is promised no glory, no fame, no special favors. Without knowing whether this course of action will be hazardous, if it will be remembered, or if there is any personal reward for him in it, Joseph acts. He acts simply because God, through the angel, has told him not to be afraid.
With Christmas Day soon to dawn, the angel speaks to us, too. Do not be afraid to take Mary into your home. Do not be afraid to welcome Christ into your home. What fear do you carry in your heart? What holds you back today? What logic is operative in your mind and heart that may need to hear the Divine logic spoken by the angel? In these remaining days of Advent, let us seek to trust God’s plan, even when it is difficult, even when understanding is a challenge. Do not be afraid to welcome Mary into your home! Do not be afraid to welcome the Christ child with joy!
