Wednesday 18 December 2024
Jeremiah 23:5-8. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever – Psalm 71(72):1-2, 12-13, 18-19. Matthew 1:18-24.
God is with us
The story of Joseph is beautiful. Think about the moment, which happens offstage, when Mary confided her big news to him. Many men would have reacted with anger, indignation and fragile ego.
These days, we are painfully aware of occasions of domestic violence when women refuse to be controlled by men and men can’t cope. Perhaps it would have been easier if Joseph had been present when the angel Gabriel visited Mary. He wasn’t. Like Mary, he was called to trust. Trust has become one of the scarcest attitudes in the world. People are far more inclined to be suspicious of each other.
Joseph’s character, even from the little we know, speaks powerfully to a society that is lost in its own grievances. He is prepared to trust that God is indeed with us. We could all put those words on a Christmas card and mail them to ourselves.
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