back to Sermons Archive

December 23, 2007
Scripture: Matthew 1: 18-25
Title: "Dismissed quietly"

I have always felt sorry for Joseph. Among the players of the Christmas story, he always seems to be relegated to the sidelines, sort of like the equipment manger in a big game. “Alright, Joseph, we have finally reached the big moment! Here it is! Now, you just sit over there and watch. Just make sure that all the key players like Mary, and the shepherds have all the right props for their part. Just sit over there and warm the bench.” Joseph is a blip on the screen in the drama of Christmas.

And this attitude of quietly dismissing Joseph spills over into even the picturesque nativity scenes that adorn our mantles or tables.

For years, when I would unpack our nativity scene, I always had one dilemma. Which one of the figures is actually Joseph? I knew which one was Mary, well because she was the only woman in the box. I knew which one was baby Jesus, well, because once again, he was the only baby in the box. And I could figure out which ones were the wise men. They were pretty easy to figure out. They had fancy hats and gold paint on them. And then I would get down to the rest of the characters in the box. There they all were, the rest of the characters in this Christmas play, all lined up, all ready to be placed in the manger scene. But which one was Joseph? Each one of the remaining characters had a headdress and a robe. A few of the characters had shepherd’s hooks. One had a lamb with him. So I would begin to narrow it down.

Well, last year, this guy in red was Joseph so maybe he will be just a shepherd this year. And this guy looks kind of funny. He certainly can’t be Joseph. He might scare the baby. So I played eeny-miny-moe with the characters until I settled on one that I thought might be Joseph.

Finally I got so tired of this each and every year that I bought a nativity set that has all the characters separated in their very own boxes. Shepherds are groups with sheep. Wise Men are with the camel. And a third box that is marked Holy Family. Now I know which one is Joseph.

For years, we as people of faith have quietly dismissed Joseph from the Christmas story. We have relegated him to the sidelines of the Christmas story. We have made him just a blip on the screen.
And today, Joseph has had enough and invites us to take another look at the Christmas story once more. He invites us to see that his role in the Christmas story is crucial to God’s plan of salvation.

And it all begins with his family tree. The author of Matthew is very careful is lining out Joseph’s genealogy and makes sure to trace this family tree to David, even to Abraham who first entered into covenant with God. Joseph is the key to it all. He is the connection to God’s first promise to Abraham. He is the connection to David. He is part of the stump of Jesse that will bring forth a new shoot that will bring new life to all.

We as readers say, Well, Joseph, that bit of information is helpful and good to know. But it says right here, that Mary was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Joseph, I hate to break it to you, but you are not the father. There is no connection. You are still sitting the bench in the big game. And once again we try to quietly dismiss Joseph and his role in the Christmas story.

And Joseph says to us, “Take another look at the story. There is more to it than my family tree. I made a pivotal decision in this story. Take another look.

So we take another look at the story once more. We read that Joseph and Mary are already betrothed and in those days, that was as good as married just without the living together. And Mary is pregnant. And Joseph is not the father.

Now He has to figure out what he is going to do. All his life, he has obeyed God’s law. All his life, he has let the law be his guide. All his life, he has trusted that the law would help him to be a righteous man. But now…the law doesn’t seem so wonderful. Joseph knows that by law, he could turn Mary in. She would have to face the consequences of her actions. And more than likely, she would be found guilty and then put to death by stoning. That is what the law says.

This choice makes Joseph uncomfortable. It just didn’t seem right. He loves Mary. He couldn’t do that to her.

Maybe he could quietly divorce her, quietly dismiss her, and try to get on with his life, knowing that people were always going to wonder why and wonder who the father of Mary’s baby actually is. Joseph just knows that he doesn’t want to make a scene. It is just easier to quietly dismiss Mary, move on, and let the people wonder who the father actually is.

Joseph goes to bed, finally thinking he has figured out a way that both parties could save face and he falls asleep.

And then an angel appears and says: “Joseph, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife. The child she carries is a gift from God. This is the child, the Savior that God promised to God’s people. This child will save all of his people and bring new life to all.

And Joseph, here is the best news: You get to name the child. You get to claim this gift as your own. You get to be a part of something wonderful, something miraculous. You will give this child a name and a connection to God’s first covenant.”

The next morning, Joseph wakes up and he has to decide. Was it really a dream? Did that really happen? Did an angel appear to him? Or did last night’s supper not agree with him?

Joseph could have easily once again quietly dismissed the dream as the effects of an upset stomach or that he was making up things so that he could do what he really wanted. He could have quietly dismissed Mary. He could have quietly dismissed the dream. He could have quietly dismissed God’s plan. Joseph has a choice.

Does he open himself up to the possibilities of God or does he quietly dismiss Mary? Is he willing to see God working through an unlikely and unpleasant situation or does he quietly dismiss the child that Mary carries? Does he believe in a God that works in miracles, that brings hope to a hopeless situation or does he quietly dismiss the presence of God?

Joseph made his choice. Joseph realized that God has been working from the very beginning, making the impossible possible. Didn’t his relative Abraham have a visit from an angel announcing that Sarah, his wife would have a child even though she was barren? Didn’t his relative Jacob, who was a tricky sort of character, not at all trustworthy, become a part of God’s plan by entering into a covenant with God once more? Didn’t his relative Joseph dream dreams about God’s will for God’s people?

Joseph’s family tree is a testament to God’s saving grace. Joseph’s family tree is a sign of God’s covenant with the least likely characters. Joseph’s family tree is a symbol of the possibilities that happen when people open themselves up to God’s presence and God’s plan. Joseph’s family tree is the key to salvation for all of God’s people.

The next morning, Joseph woke up and took Mary as his wife. Joseph opened himself up to the possibilities of God and named his son, Jesus. The next morning, Joseph embraced his part as a key player in God’s plan for redemption. Joseph accepted that the presence of God had touched his life in a profound way and opened himself up to the possibilities of God.

And now Joseph turns to us and gives us the same choice: Will we open ourselves up to the possibilities of God working in a world that is broken and hurting? Or will we quietly dismiss the plan, not wanting to cause a scene? Will we follow God’s calling in our lives to be God’s people in the world or will we quietly dismiss our potential because we are afraid? Will we welcome the Christ child who invites into true relationship with our God and with one another? Or will we quietly dismiss the invitation?

The angel tells Joseph to not be afraid. Take Mary as your wife. See what God has in store for you today. And that is the good news that I bring you today: Don’t be afraid. We have been given an opportunity. We have been given the promise of a Savior. We have been given an invitation to be a part of something beyond ourselves. We have been given an opportunity to be a part of God’s continuing acts of grace.

And now we have a choice: Will we act in faith or will we quietly dismiss this promised gift of hope and new life?

Don’t be afraid. Embrace this gift of new life that has come for all of God’s children. Open yourselves to the possibilities of God’s presence guiding your life. Invite the Savior who has come to save his people into your life. Don’t be afraid to live out your calling as people of Faith.

We have a choice. Do we act in faith? Do we live out our calling as disciples of Christ? Or do we quietly dismiss the invitation to new life and hope?

May we always remember the mysterious and glorious ways that our God works in our world. Amen.

Rev. Heather McColl
Midway Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

back to Sermons Archive