Word to the Wise
Sunday, December 19, 2010 - Saturday in the Third Week of Advent
[Jeremiah 23:5-8 and Matthew 1:18-25]Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David.....[Jeremiah]<br /> Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home......When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel commanded him and took his wife into his home. [Matthew]
I suspect that when most of us Catholics speak of "the Annunciation," we have in mind the scene with Mary and the angel Gabriel. Much theology and piety is based on Mary's openness to the plan of God and her role to play in it. "Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; be it done unto me according to your word." But today's gospel passage shows us a different "annunciation" scene. This one shows the annunciation to Joseph! Much can and should be made of this scene, too!
Three things are noteworthy. First, Joseph resembles the Joseph of Genesis. He is a dreamer! Second, the angel addresses him as "son of David," which means that Joseph is not only a descendant of King David, but is the one chosen to carry out God's promise that the Messiah would come from the lineage of King David, as Jeremiah points out in the first scripture for today. Third, Joseph, like Mary, chooses to participate in God's plan of salvation, just as Mary did. Instead of divorcing her as he had planned, he takes her into his home and accepts the child she is bearing and ultimately completes the process by naming him Jesus as the angel commanded.
Joseph may not get all the attention that Mary does, but if we are to completely take in the whole mystery of these events, we need to realize that two persons said "Yes!" and their cooperation meant everything! AMEN
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