Sunday, December 18, 2022

4th Sunday of Advent

The Revised Common Lectionary passages for the Lord’s Day are:
– First Reading: Isaiah 7:10-16
– Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
– Second Reading: Romans 1:1-7
– Gospel Reading: Matthew 1:18-25

The liturgical color for the day is: Purple or Blue

It was night when Joseph had his dream.  In his dream, there was an angel of the Lord.  Joseph had this dream, this visit, this epiphany of the Lord—and in it Joseph reached clarity.

There he was a simple man.  Nothing stood out about Joseph.  In the Christmas story, he does not even have any lines of dialogue.  He is there, but he is there in the background.  He is not the central player.

But, Joseph has a central role.  He has a job.  And he takes it seriously.  Joseph’s job was to boldly nurture the presence of God.

He took care of Jesus.  He held him.  He cradled him.  He kept him from harm.  He was mystified by him, and yet he was his sure protector.  Joseph was there when Jesus took his first steps.  Joseph was there when Jesus started to grapple with the bigger questions of who he was and what his life was about.

Joseph was there, and what Joseph did was boldly nurture the presence of God. 

Sometimes we think our job is to be the ones who look for violations and make a report of who is naughty and who is nice.  We keep track.  We keep a record.  Our records may not get reported to Santa Claus, but they do get reported.  We keep a mental report of who is in and who is out in our life.  Some make the cut and plenty we just cut down.

That is not our job.  Our job is to be the Joseph.  You and I, we people of God.  We are Joseph.  That is our job, to be Joseph and do what Joseph did—nurture the presence of God.  Be Joseph.

—

Rev. Dr. Daris Bultena
General Presbyter and Stated Clerk