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Advent 4

Reading: Matthew 1: 18-25

19/12/04

Inspired by today’s gospel reading I have written a short story from the perspective of Joseph. He had planned to spare Mary public disgrace by dismissing her quietly, but an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and set him on a different path, showing Joseph that God was with him.
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I was walking in the desert. Why was I in the desert? Only the holy or the mad live out in the desert, and I consider myself to be neither holy nor, by the grace of God, mad. But nevertheless, I walked in the desert.

Many things have happened to the people of God in the desert. It is a lonely place, a dangerous place. At night the desert is cold, and during the day it’s blistering heat can kill. When the wind blows in the desert it’s face may change in a moment and many people are lost in the dunes.

And so I walked. So sure of my destination when I started and now my steps followed the same circles as the arguments in my mind. The day was bright, no sand blew in my eyes, and yet my path was obscured.

Suddenly I realised I was not alone, a man walked beside me, we walked in silence for some time, then he stopped me with a hand on my arm. As I faced him I saw that his face shone, and the robes he wore shone white - how could they be white, I wondered, after walking so far in the desert? My own robes were grubby with sand and dirt; my body was grimy with sweat and dust.

He said, “Joseph, son of David,” (of course he knew me, it was a dream, I didn’t question it). “Joseph,” he said. “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife,” (and, of course, he also knew my fears). He continued, “The child in her is from the Holy Spirit,” (every child is a gift from God, but he seemed to mean more). “She will bear a son, and you are to call him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (It was such a common name, and yet this man gave it the full weight of it’s meaning: our God saves).

As I considered his words with awe, into my mind came the words of the prophet: “The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel.” God is with us.

As I looked on this shining man, I knew him for an angel of the Lord. And finally my way was clear; I saw the road and we walked it together though I knew not where it went, because I knew God was with me on the way.
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I wonder if we feel that God is with us?

For a season that we’ve come to think of as representing peace on earth, often the period of waiting we call Advent is anything but peaceful. The evenings and weekends fill up with school carols or nativity plays, work Christmas dos, family visiting, church events; with Christmas shopping, putting up the Christmas decorations, and writing Christmas cards.

Perhaps there is a reminder in the chaos that this is a penitential season. It is a time not just for material preparation, but also for spiritual preparation. And yet for many of us, the hour or so spent here in church is one of very few opportunities to spend dedicated time with God.

That being so, it is important to remember that “God is with us”, as Isaiah said. It is his nature to be with us always. He was with his people, the Jews, throughout their history, as recorded in the Old Testament; he came to us as a human child at Bethlehem; he comes now, wanting to be part of our lives; and he will come again at the end of time.

Play CD: You, Lord, are in this place…