Matthew 1:18-21

“But just when he had resolved to do 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 as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” vs. 20

Like Luke, when Matthew put together his account of Jesus’ life and ministry, he decided to include the story of Jesus’ birth, but his description doesn’t have the flair and drama that Luke includes. There’s no mention of an annunciation or a census or a harrowing birth in a stable. Joseph and Mary already live in Bethlehem, and Jesus was born in Joseph’s home. And Joseph is the star of the show! His dilemma is whether to actually take the already pregnant Mary as his wife. When he decides to find a way to dismiss her privately and not expose her to public shame, he has a dream in which a messenger from God advises him to just marry her. The child she carried was from the Holy Spirit! So Matthew’s emphasis is on Joseph’s faith, not Mary’s, and he is portrayed as an exceedingly righteous man. It’s good to have male models for faithfulness! There are many more women than men in our congregations and there are some who fear the feminization of the church. A few are even upset by the presence of female pastors and bishops. So it’s good to have “Josephs” among us, male spiritual leaders who are also filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Thought for the Day: Why are men sometimes reluctant to share their faith?