Matthew 1.24-25
When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
Ok, I agreed to do this blog thing, fully expecting to
have to struggle to say something meaningful, first to anyone else, but also to
me.
After reading the scripture and the Hamilton reflection,
I was frankly stunned to have a semi-significant experience! (I don’t
want to oversell it, so I am going with “semi” significant).
Here goes:
My first thought is that only a nut would follow what an
angel told him in a dream. The book tells us Joseph was probably only
15-16 years old, so that explains it, right? Or does it? Maybe this
kind of innocence is another word for faith. I frankly cannot imagine the
faith it would take to cause Joseph to marry his betrothed, when she turned up
pregnant, and a voice in a dream tells him the child is “from the Holy
Spirit”. Right. Joseph simply “did as the angel of the Lord commanded
him”, and married Mary.
I wonder if God expects us to accept what happens to us,
and make the best of it; even those things we view as tragic or unbearable when
they occur?
Mary and Joseph certainly made the best of the cards
they were dealt. No whining, no push-back at all. Just simple
acceptance.
My son was two years old when he developed Type one
diabetes. I still remember the phone call from Susan after she had been
told by our pediatrician of the diagnosis. I remember how it felt, to realize
our lives, and my son’s life, would never be the same. Since then, there
have been many struggles, heart-aches and frightening experiences because of
diabetes.
However, the reality is that all of us are different
people because of this circumstance, and in some ways better people. We
empathize with the plight of others, view the medical profession in a totally
different light than we would otherwise (thank GOD for them!!), are more
conscious of our diet, as well as of the precious gift that every moment
together represents. Pollyanna naiveté? Or acceptance of
reality? Or simple and innocent trust that “God is with us”, like Joseph?
Hey, I get upset as anyone when something goes awry with
my plans, as I had them laid out. I suppose this scripture speaks to me in
that upset, reminding me that in all things, God is with me. It
also calls me to listen for the voice
of God, wherever it may appear, in the form of friends, loved ones, the
preacher, the choir, the street person, or...
Mike Holloway, 2013 Church Council Chair, Chancel Choir
& Class Etc. member
