Joseph, a Silent figure in the story of Advent.
Considering what Joseph did to protect Mary's reputation, the lack of attention and adulation for this guy is kind of a rip off. I'm just sayin' good guys (and women) do not always get their proper spotlight! He could have hung her out for public humiliation and disgrace but he didn't. He just wasn't that kind of guy. He was faithful, committed, thoughtful, caring and protective.
If Joseph hadn't agreed to marry Mary despite her predicament, we wouldn't be retelling this story centuries later.
Joseph.
Didn't play a starring role.
Received little to no recognition.
Sacrificed the engagement and imagined future he originally agreed to, for a common good.
Faithful, Committed, Caring, Protective.
Father to a child who was not his own.
Joseph is our Altruist.
Let's assume Joseph lived an emotional healthy life as husband to Mary and father to Jesus. My hunch is that if this weren't true someone would have told a story about the wicked dad of Jesus and it would have trickled down through the centuries. Instead, Joseph receives little mention. Let's face it, the ancient paparazzi was on to this family from the very beginning. They did not live in obscurity.
Sacrifice without authentic love for self, others and a higher power is a breeding ground for bitterness or ego enhancement. That's not who we see in the character of Joseph.
I believe Joseph genuinely loved Mary. He proved he was willing to go all the way for her protection. This placed him smartly in the role of her hero and well, that's not a poor payoff!
Enduring altruism is motivated by pure love.
The story of Mary and Joseph is a love story of epic proportions.
Mary must have felt deeply loved and honored by this man.
Just as Joseph loved and sacrificed for Mary, the story of "The Coming" is a sacrificial love story.
It is a story of God coming to us and living among us in historical context. Taking on physical appearance and then spirit. Motivated by desire to be near to us because of love.
YOU are the BeLoved.
Allow that to soak in a little deeper today.
PRAYER
I sit with love today. Love penetrates every cell of my being and radiates exuberant light. Love scatters the dark places. Spirit, Spirit, I love you.
