And Joseph said....

The Fourth Sunday of Advent - December 23, 2007

Sepphoris was an up and coming place in those days. It was just in the process of building and expanding, becoming a fine place for those Romans with considerable means.

They would have needed local carpenters among the workmen, as well as those who made the beautiful mosaics I saw.

Life was pleasant in that ancient town. I walked through the water channel and cistern that was the end of an aqueduct that helped to make it a comfortable and desirable place.

Then I stood near those beautiful, extravagant mosaics that are still there and looked to the east and in the distance is Nazareth.

It is within the realm of possibility that Joseph could have made that long walk Sepphoris in order to get work.

He would have experienced first-hand the great disparity between his life in the Jewish village of Nazareth and that of the rich Roman overlords who had such fine things built in Sepphoris.

Of course he couldn't say anything, but it might have added to his resentment and played a part in his prayers for the coming of Messiah.

And there is this business about the census.

The purpose of census was always taxation; the Romans need to know how many people there are so that they know how much they intent to extract from the population.

The gospels are filled with stories about sick and hungry people, you remember.

Why were so many?

Could it be that the taxation was so oppressive that it drove people into poverty?

Another reason for resentment on the part of Joseph.

And finally there is the problem of a pregnant fiancee', when Joseph knows that he is not the father.

He could have denounced Mary publicly, and what a mess that would be for everyone.

But anger or resentment does not spill out even here; he resolves that they will go their separate ways.

And God used a dream to break into Joseph's silent plans, asking that he continue the engagement and take Mary as wife, for this baby has great things to do, and he needs a father.

So the wedding plans continue, the trip to Bethlehem for the census is undertaken, he loses a lot of time away from work, but the resentment he must have felt did not spill out here, either.

Joseph simply does what is needed at the time.

There was a crisis at a Christmas pageant one night; there was a frantic phone call to the director that the youngster taking the part of Joseph was taken ill at the last minute.

What should be done?

“Oh, just let one of the shepherds sort of hang around a little more, it doesn't matter much, since Joseph doesn't have a speaking part,” said someone.

The pageant went ahead, and they managed somehow, but in reflecting on the event, the pastor said, “No it wasn't so good; we really need Joseph in this story.”

We need Joseph!

We need the father in the story.

Even if he doesn't have a single speaking line in scripture, we still need this father.

We need the one who will keep things together when the hard times hit.

We need one who will be encouragement for us when we're ready to give up.

We need the one who listens for the Word of God.

We may identify with Joseph.

Not everyone here is a choir-type singer.

Not everyone among us thrives on the concepts with which we wrestle in Bible study.

Mostly we stumble along, not knowing exactly how this journey of life will go.

And that is what Joseph did.

He stuck with Mary and baby.

As we hear next Sunday, he led them to safety in Egypt to escape Herod's wrath, and somehow managed a life there for awhile in some refugee camp.

He brought them back when Herod was dead and the trouble was over.

He re-established his shop and we assume taught Jesus the trade, and took Jesus to synagogue.

He did what was needed, without a word being recorded in scripture.

And God blessed his work.

As I think about it, there are lots of Jospeh-roles around this place.

I think of the persons who serve as catechetical mentors. They give of themselves to sit for a time with a sometimes squirmy young teen and help that teen think and talk about faith and Bible and life.

They are doing the job that is needed,

and not a word that they share will be splashed on a bulletin board.

I think of our Stephen Ministers, whose job it is to listen carefully to a person in a time of crisis or sorrow.

It can be a difficult job, with a splash of joy thrown in.

But it is quiet; no one else hears their conversations, as each person searches for the right words to say what needs to be said, God's best words, to each other.

I think of those on our prayer chain, who without any fanfare, take the names and concerns of many to the Lord day after day.

Not a word of their conversation with the Father is recorded or voiced elsewhere.

The general public may not know or care, but this work is happening on their behalf.

I think of all those who have Joseph-type jobs in their daily work,

the jobs that will never make headlines,

the jobs that need to be done well and yet seldom are recognized,

jobs that give care, or make things that need to work correctly,

the jobs of those who stand watch at night.

I think of those who take the role of Joseph at home, providing for a family of whatever size, caring, loving, and making space for the family to praise God in worship and study.

It is almost time to tell the great story again.

Tomorrow evening when we gather in this place, the children will help us visualize it at 7:00 and we'll hear the soaring words of St. Luke directly at 10:00.

At either service, think of the place of Joseph, welcoming, making room, offering care, doing whatever is needed, so that this strange plan of God will play out for us and in us.

And then realize that this story is not something that we watch;

the whole nave is the stage,

and we are standing there beside Joseph, not sure what comes next,

but doing whatever is needed for each other, for a hurting world, and for the glory of God.

Hurray for Joseph, he's our man.

No, better: Hurray for God who chooses Joseph, who chooses us.

We can go and take our place at the cradle and learn again of God's love for us,

lay aside our resentment about problems large and small.

and be reminded that in the quiet jobs, the un-flashy jobs, God will be praised. Amen.

Please note: The preceding sermon is provided as a resource for the thought, prayer, and meditation of the members and friends of St. Mark's. It is the residue of a verbal event, and thus it does not have academic footnotes and other details that would be expected in a written document. The writer gladly acknowledges the prior thought and work of many Christians before him.