Daily Worship

Dilemma

Katy Emslie-Smith December 15, 2015 0 0

Matthew 1:18-25

Joseph accepts Jesus as his son

18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: his mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’

22 All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’).

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

He was a man more accustomed 
To decision about the grain of wood
Or the sharpness of a plane
To serve his craft.
Unfamiliar to him this tension
Between requirement and love.

Disgrace, divorce, the public stare,
Conscience, affection, embedded law.

Did he sleep those nights?

Lord, when the way of grace asks of us
A breaking of the mould, 
To scandalise convention, 
Set criticism muttering,
We pray for the gift of faith,
Like Joseph, 
With courage, care
Patience and respect,
To believe the messenger’s words:
“Do not be afraid”.