Readings: Isaiah 7:10-14; Romans 1:1-7; Mt. 1:18-24
God’s Ways are Not Our Ways; his Plans are not Our Plans!
1. Two weeks ago, we met John the Baptist, who appeared from the wilderness and called us to repent, for the kingdom of God was near. He called himself the voice of the one crying in the desert: prepare the way for the Messiah. Today we see Joseph, a man who never spoke a word in the Bible. We only know of his thought, “Such was his intention when behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary, your wife, into your home.”Even his thought was controlled, so it seems, by the angel. In my opinion, these two men, with their peculiar characters and personalities, are the ‘Persons of Christmas.’ They speak to us in different ways about the working of God in men's lives. Their lives make it clear to us that we may plan what we like for our lives, but God always has his plans for us. God tells us, in no uncertain terms, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.” (Is. 55:8-9). When God enters our world, He turns it upside down and inside out.
2. So, who was Joseph? This man’s personality, humanity, and humility can be rated as high as any biblical character of his time. He played a vital role in salvation history. The Bible tells us that “He was a righteous man.” So-called because he observed the law of God. Yet he was unwilling to expose his wife, whom he thought had broken the law. He was a God-fearing man who would do nothing to jeopardize his relationship with God or his fellow men. He knew that law was made for man and not man for the law. He was compassionate. He empathized with Mary’s situation so he would not openly discredit her. Joseph was a man of honor and did all he could to protect Mary’s good name. According to St. Thomas Aquinas, “A person’s reputation is their most prized possession, and to destroy it is not just unjust but robbery. Even if what we say about other people is true, and they have done terrible things, it is still deeply wrong to destroy their name unless there is some compelling necessity for the common good.” May we not say a word that will destroy the good name of another child of God. “Do to no one what you would not want done to you.” (Matt. 7:12).
3. Joseph was a man of faith. He took his problem to God and was sure God would find a way for him. And He did! Joseph took his wife home. He was to be the foster father of the son of God and would be the one to name him Jesus. He was indeed a father to Jesus every step of the way. Joseph was a man of prayer. When he was worried about his wife, he took it to the Lord in prayer. He did not report her to people and sought what to do with her. God showed him the way and instructed him on what to do. He never wavered from God’s plan. How do you deal with troubling situations in your life? Who do you talk to first? Let us learn from Joseph, the quiet man of the New Testament. God will meet us in the hour of our need and show us a way out. But remember, when you let God into your life, your plans become God’s plans, and your life becomes God’s life. God will give you responsibilities you never bargained for but be sure He will always be there with you. He will send his angels to assure you that He is Emmanuel, God with us. He will provide you with what you need. He will be with you because you said ‘yes’ to him amidst suffering and disappointments, pains and toil, hardship and hunger, temptation and danger.
4. In today’s first reading, Ahaz refused to say yes to God like Joseph. In about 735 B.C. Ahaz, king of Judah, was pressured by two other kings (Israel and Damascus) to join an alliance against the superpower, Assyria. Isaiah warned Ahaz not to join any coalition but to put his faith in the Lord. “Unless your faith is firm, you shall not be firm.” (v.9). When Ahaz refused a sign that God would be with him, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the Lord!” Isaiah gave him the sign: “The virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.” Ahaz’s son would be a sign that God was with his people. God was faithful to his word. Ahaz died at 36 after a 16-year reign. His son Hezekiah succeeded him. Hezekiah was a good leader. Matthew saw the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in Jesus, who was born of a virgin. Isaiah’s prophecy and fulfillment in Matthew’s Gospel point to absolute historical continuity because of the divine word.
5. On this last week of Advent, as we celebrate Christmas in a few days, may Joseph lead us to the presence of the newborn king. Let him show us how to surrender our plans to him and say yes to God in all we do. May we not hold on to our ways like Ahaz but learn to let go so that God may reign in our hearts. Those who have faith and trust in the Lord in total surrender to him can live in the world, knowing that the fulfillment of God’s promises will inevitably come true. They know that what ‘Immanuel’ means is true. He is with us always, even till the end of time.
Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP
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