REFLECTIONS

When It Makes No Sense

While setting the figurines from one of our many nativity scenes, I found myself paying special attention to Joseph. Maybe for the first time, I saw a man gazing affectionately at his newborn son as any proud father would, yet toward a baby not his own. Reverence filled his gaze as if he knew how extraordinary the child was. He did. Mary had told him the whole astonishing story. Joseph, however, wasn’t quick to accept Mary’s explanation.

He wanted to believe her, but still found himself trying to make sense of it all. Virgins don’t have babies. Still, Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose [Mary] to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered 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 home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.[1]

Joseph must rank among the most remarkable men in the Bible. His faith and obedience rival those of Noah, Abraham, and Moses. As the angel of the Lord asked, Joseph stood by his bride to be, to love her, honor her, and cherish her even when it made no sense to do so.

God gives each of us different roles to play, but all of us are called to love and serve the Christ Child named Jesus. And we are asked to believe in Him and obey Him even in times when, to us, it makes no sense to do so.

But remember the scripture?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.[2]

That’s what Joseph did.

“You are the light of the world.”

Richard +

www.reflectingthesavior.org

[1] Matthew 1:19-21, 24-25

[2] Proverbs 3:5-6

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