Fourth Sunday of Advent: Isaiah 7:10-16; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25; Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18
We enter not only the shortest day of the year, but a time of mystery. Isaiah tells us that “the young woman is with child and will bear a son“. Joseph, engaged to Mary, learns that she is pregnant, “by the Holy Spirit“. Every time I hear that, my head goes, “Yeah, sure. Tell me another.” And I’m sure that’s what Joseph’s first response was. But he was a righteous man, “unwilling to expose her to public disgrace“. He planned to end the engagement quietly, so as not to shame Mary. But then he has a dream. In the dream, the Lord appears to him, and explains that Mary is indeed pregnant by the Holy Spirit, that this is to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy. He should marry her.
The Lord’s instructions to Joseph start with “Do not be afraid”. In this case, Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. As time went on, there was more to fear, as Joseph, Mary and the baby flee to Egypt to avoid Herod’s violence. They were refugees, fleeing a government that sought to kill all boys under the age of two. Do not be afraid. Joseph disappears from the story after that, but he must have been afraid as his son started preaching.
We all need to hear the reminder. There is much to fear — political violence against migrants and refugees, random violence of our gun saturated society, damage from the effects of climate change. And then there are the basic life events to fear.
As I hear Do not be afraid I am reminded that we can bear much when we are accompanied by Jesus. It does not mean it isn’t hard. But it means we are not alone.
So in this season of darkness, do not be afraid.
Nativity Scene at Claremont United Methodist Church, Claremont CA
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