Birth of Jesus
18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. When Mary his mother was engaged to Joseph, before they were married, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph her husband was a righteous man. Because he didn’t want to humiliate her, he decided to call off their engagement quietly. 20 As he was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child she carries was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 Now all of this took place so that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled:
23 Look! A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son,
And they will call him, Emmanuel.[a]
(Emmanuel means “God with us.”)
24 When Joseph woke up, he did just as an angel from God commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he didn’t have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. Joseph called him Jesus.
Reflection
Joseph was a good man, and who could ask for more? He is clearly not the biological father of Mary’s child but Joseph isn’t concerned with who is the father when he decides to quietly call off the engagement. According to my study bible, Joseph’s decision to call off their engagement is viewed as an “act of kindness” and he is therefore regarded as righteous. Joseph’s righteousness is displayed by doing “just as an angel from God commanded.” The angel appeared in a dream and gave Joseph two very specific commands: #1 Don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, and #2, Call him Jesus. This passage closes with Joseph naming Mary’s baby Jesus. Naming a child in the ancient Mediterranean world was a significant act on the part of the father. In naming the child, the father officially acknowledges the infant as his own legitimate child. The act of naming functions as a virtual adoption of Jesus by Joseph as his son, even though he had nothing to do with the pregnancy of Mary. By acknowledging the baby as his son Joseph fulfills the prophecy that the child is legally heir to the Davidic dynasty and rightly called “son of David”. (Matt 1:1)
In researching Joseph, the father of Jesus, I found an interesting description of Joseph who seems to be an almost forgotten man at Christmas time. The fact that he never uttered a word which is recorded may cause him to fade into the background. According to scripture and
tradition, Mary and Joseph were brought up in the same community. When we compare Luke 1:26 with Luke 2:4, we learn that both lived in Nazareth. Joseph had likely been born in Bethlehem (65 miles to the south). But his family moved to Nazareth some time during his youth. There he met Mary, and now they were a young couple engaged to be married. Joseph could have been very cruel toward Mary. He could have stoned her or divorced her—but he was a man of compassion and kindness, a man of godly wisdom and he thought before he acted. Joseph kept his promise to both Mary and to God by following the direction of the angel. He gave Mary the protection of a husband. He gave the child the dignity of a father. AND he followed the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Joseph was a good man.
by Kathleen Stolz
For Pondering and Prayer
Kindness is the quality of being gentle, caring, and helpful without expecting praise or reward in return. As I think about this description of Joseph and other parents I have known, I believe “kindness” would be the #1 character trait for both a good man or woman and a good father or mother, whether they are biological, adoptive, foster or any other type of parent. In today’s world with all different kinds of family units, any committed relationship is strengthened by Kindness.
Take a few moments to ponder the definition of Kindness above. Think about your own parents, yourself as a parent, or other parents you know. How have any of those parents reflected kindness as Joseph did?
Prayer: O Divine Parent, we reach out to you this day and always. We reach out for your love, for your generosity, for your compassion, and above all for your kindness. Even when we don’t deserve your grace and forgiveness you never turn away from us. As our Divine Parent you love us, no matter what. May we follow your example and love all your children. Amen.
