Advent-Christmas Devotions
Saturday, December 20
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 pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce 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 become pregnant and give birth to 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 given birth to a son, and he named him Jesus.
“… Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. …”
Mary, the mother of Jesus, gets most of the press this time of year. However, in nearly every nativity scene, Joseph is there as well. While shepherds, wise men, sheep, cattle, and angels come and go at the creche, it is Joseph with Mary at the manger that takes center stage. Joseph is a key to the story.
That’s why Matthew spends some time, not only outlining Joseph’s Davidic roots in chapter one, but offers this birth narrative in chapter two as well. The Evangelist doesn’t want us to miss the righteous man who would become Mary’s husband and Jesus’ adoptive father. After all, the faithfulness of Joseph as spouse and parent is critical to understanding who Jesus becomes.
Referred to in the Scriptures as the “carpenter’s son”, Jesus himself likely benefitted from his father’s occupation. He himself, legend holds, followed in Joseph’s footsteps until he engaged in his public ministry. In addition, because of Joseph’s righteousness, Mary, Jesus, and his siblings were loved, nurtured, provided for, and instructed in the way of the Lord. Joseph was instrumental in the life of Jesus.
He is also an example to us about what it means to be “righteous” – that is, faithful to the Lord. Loving, nurturing, providing, instructing – all reflections of Joseph’s righteousness could well serve as a model for living righteous lives today.
Prayer: Thank you, Holy Father, for Joseph and his ministry to Mary, their children, and Your Son. Inspire me by his example to be more righteous and faithful in my life. Amen.