Sermon for the 4th Sunday of Advent – 18th December 2022: Isaiah 7:10-16, Romans 1:1-7, Matt. 1:18-25

Deacon Chris Saccali – St Paul’s Athens

 

I speak in the name of the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Oh Joseph. It can be so easy to overlook him. To underestimate the very real fear and confusion he had to conquer, to skip over the costly compassion and audacious trust that hehad to muster up and act upon. To forget that according to the world around him Jesus was the carpenter’s son.

Jewish communities in the first century were built upon extended family, active community, and a sense of loving duty to one another. It is therefore highly likely that Joseph’s whole future was wrapped up in a local girl that he’d probably known for as long as he could remember.

A girl who was probably chosen for him, by both of their families, so that they could begin their own. A girl who held the key to all his plans, his expectations, his anticipations. A girl who returned from a trip to her cousin’s house pregnant with a baby that couldn’t have been his. A girl he loved and respected enough to let go quietly, with minimal shame and humiliation.

Can you imagine how Joseph felt? Maybe you are familiar with the rug being pulled out from underneath you. Fearing all those things that are out of our control and events that seem to come from nowhere and knock us off course. We fail to learn that God is in control and to submit our lives to him. Maybe instead of Christmas or Season’s greetings our substitute wish during Advent and beyond should be that of the angels and the phrase uttered throughout scripture, ‘Do not be afraid,’ Emmanuel God is with us.

Although we light the fourth candle on our Advent wreath  for Mary today and many of our thoughts and prayers are focused on her through Advent and Christmas, we shall return to her ponderings on New Year’s Day. Let us concentrate on Joseph and try to gain insights into his role in the narrative as presented in Matthew, his character and recognise that the story could not have gone ahead without him. The gospel writer gives him his due.

We light the fourth advent candle today for Mary and many of our thoughts, prayers and services are focused on her as the God bearer the Theotokos, the chosen one. But what about Joseph it is hard to value him properly. We get so few insights into his character and the story could have gone ahead without him but Matthew the gospel writer is prepared to give him his due.

We can only imagine the distress that Joseph would have been in when he discovered that his betrothed was pregnant. No doubt Mary attempted to explain the angel’s visitation and the reason for her pregnancy but it seems that initially it was just too far-fetched for Joseph who must surely have suspected infidelity. Even for these times it is a shocking, scandalous story what then must it have been like then in first century Jewish culture?

Joseph could have responded in anger but instead after a quiet marriage he plans to divorce her just as quietly (apoluesai-free fire in Greek) which does give us an insight into the depth of his love and respect for Mary and what a decent guy he is in trying to save her reputation. He doesn’t want her being pointed at and made a pariah (deigmatisai).

 

BUT in Greek the words in verse 20 may be the most grace filled ever written. Again we know so much about Mary’s response to the angel but what about Joseph’s? Following this but everything changes. Within a situation of possible risk, disgrace and deep shame there is an intervention. God takes matters into hand. Joseph is addressed by the messenger here and twice more later on. Aggelos- how often we forget the real root of that word anagelno announce. This is the message: Don’t be afraid – well we’ve heard that one before Mary’s pregnancy is not the tragedy you suppose it might be. For the spirit of God is at work here and has wrapped itself round the child in her womb, a child who will embody God’s saving power. That child is the world’s salvation, a salvation for all, which nothing will be able to defeat. Do the humane, compassionate thing Joseph, Son of David. Do not be afraid, Joseph, join in the work of God for you are in the midst of a miracle greater than you can comprehend. You are within touching distance of the immensity of God. This child shall be called Emmanuel which means, God with us.

 

This takes us back to the Old Testament to the sign that was expected and we and the Jewish readers and listeners of the time start putting two and two together. Although Matthew’s birth narrative is different to the other gospel writers and quite dark – note there are no shepherds or manger mentioned – but Joseph and his lineage are given prominence as is history.

Being a Christian is all about listening to God in our lives and thinking on our feet; well, we may not all hear angels but we need to be prepared for the unexpected- God surprises. Joseph’s encounter with the angel though is told in very straightforward and pragmatic language- there are no bursts of blazing light no drift of snow-white feathers just Joseph asleep and dreaming. He trusts God simply and immediately as the message is told although it involves him in heartache and shame. His role is transformed into a vital one in Matthew’s account not to be overlooked. He is the one who listens to God and protects his family; his function as head of the household is to be there for others, to forget himself and his needs and desires and to make room for God’s action and presence in the woman and child. A man playing second fiddle in that culture, but with God the unexpected is often to be found.

Our salvation comes from something small, tender and vulnerable, something hardly noticeable, God the creator of the universe comes to us in smallness, weakness and hiddenness. No fanfares there.  This is hopeful we don’t need to look for God’s saving power in loud impressive events but keep our eyes out for small signs which are all around us.

 

Joseph is a model of the quiet, ever present, unspoken yet reliable wonder that is not immediately recognized in life. His words are never recorded in the Gospels. It is with joy this week that I have been listening to John Sibley’s rendition of the Joseph story and the bible society’s rap song the Nativity Factor taken from Joseph’s point of view. We may not see Joseph but we see what he builds. As a carpenter he worked with the grain and shape of different woods; he planned and designed. He saw Mary a young girl and planned a family, a home, a shared life. As David’s linear descendant he brought with him a family history that shaped him; a deep past and future to be shared. And then he finds his design, dreams and hopes shattered. Mary is with child and it’s not his.

Time for plan B- he thinks but plan B turns to plan C as Joseph in his obedience to God is used as the builder of a human father to a divine child. We admire Joseph’s practical and caring skills- his handiwork and see how time and again Jesus used his craft and skill his hands to build caring relationships and to touch and heal but that is part of the rest of the story – for now let us remain with Joseph and marvel at his selfless role in our Saviour’s life on earth.

As we enter this last week of Advent, leave aside the excitement of the World Cup (underdog) and prepare our hearts to bow low to enter the stable; try this exercise and see which character or animal in the nativity tableau you identify with.  You might like to choose one and see what it feels like to see the scene from their angle. AMEN