Joseph
While Luke
focuses on the birth of Jesus from Mary’s point of view, Matthew’s Gospel tells
the story from Joseph’s. Joseph must have been extremely confused when he
learns of Mary’s pregnancy. He plans to quietly ‘dismiss’ her so as not to put
her in danger. Mary’s options were bleak
without Joseph; her fate is very much in his hands. He is immediately obedient
and says yes to his call. Joseph welcomes Mary and gives this child the name he
is instructed: Jesus.
We hear very
little about Joseph in the Gospels and he is sometimes a forgotten figure in
the Jesus story, yet his decision to follow God’s call is hugely important as
he fulfills his promise to protect Mary from danger. Joseph’s ‘yes’ to God sets
him on a dangerous path. He must protect his family and this will mean later leaving
their homeland, becoming refugees fleeing the terror of Herod.
Each time God
speaks to Joseph, it is through his dreams.
The Word of God which comes to Joseph gives him a new meaning and a new
mission in life. Today can you reflect on how God speaks to you? In what ways
do you hear God’s word? And when you hear God’s word, what is your response?
When you have said ‘yes’, where has that led you? Today we can
pray for those who are faced with tough decisions and who must chose the more
difficult path. It requires strength and bravery.
God-with-us
(Emmanuel) has to flee from the terror of Herod’s brutal regime. Joseph, his
protector, guides this Holy Family into exile. At the beginning of the Jesus
story, as with the end, God is not welcome. Millions and millions of people are
today caught up in the bitter experience of exile, fleeing war and insane
violence in Syria and other parts of the world. Like Joseph, Mary and Jesus,
they too are running for their lives. Their fate is at the mercy of the rest of
the world, which keeps saying ‘never again’, but appears to not really mean it.
We welcome Jesus into our world at Christmas; we must continue to welcome Him
in the refugee. 
Lord,
help us to remember those who tonight will go to sleep unfed and unwelcome,
strangers in foreign lands, people who have fled for their lives and are far
from their homes. We lift up to you millions in our world who are escaping
persecution and conflict, who have fled death, torture or exploitation. So many
have suffered so much. Lord Jesus, soften our hearts to their situation, and
help us follow your lead in seeking justice and mercy. We pray for an end to
the wars, poverty and human rights abuses that drive desperate people to become
refugees in the first place. We thank You that you are Lord of all the earth
and all its people are loved by you. We pray these things in the name of your
son who was himself born into the troubled life of a refugee. Amen (Tearfund). 
