Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., celebrated the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Dec. 19, 2010. This is my last Sunday serving as the congregation’s interim pastor.

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Readings

Isaiah 7:10–16
Psalm 80:1–7, 17–19
Romans 1:1–7
Matthew 1:18–25

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Prayer

Come, Lord Jesus, and dwell with us. Ask your Father to stir up in our midst the Holy Spirit, so that we may be with one with you, that we may trust you in all things, and that we may listen when you speak to us. We pray, Emmanuel, in your name. Amen.

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Message

As the light of dawn slowly climbed
the ladder of clouds in the east,
glowing scarlet then turning gold,
he found the details of the dream
growing grey and dim.
His memory wrestled with the sun’s heat,
and wrapped the dream in a fog,
hiding its vivid hues and feelings.

Soon, all he could recall was a voice,
the voice of one speaking to him
from his memory’s sea of silence.
He was known, known by name,
known by his family, his lineage,
known for his misgivings,
his fears of ridicule,
his desires to avoid shame and disgrace,
his quandary over what to do,
what to say and how to act
to the woman given to him
to be is partner, his fit helper.

In the ear of his mind he could hear the voice.
“Joseph, Son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife….” (Matthew 1:20, NRSV)
Do not be afraid.
What did the voice—
the voice in his dream,
the voice that spoke a message,
the voice of a messenger, an angel—
what did the voice know of his fear?

But as he pondered that voice,
holding the memory in his heart,
he heard that message again and again,
and in the lapping of that message
upon the shore of his heart,
it wore away the jagged edges of fear,
it washed away the doubt,
and left him cleansed and refreshed,
his trust restored, his faith clarified.

“Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife,
for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:20, NRSV)
The memory gave him strength,
the angel’s voice brought him peace,
the message renewed his faith.
This child, a child conceived amid concern and scandal,
a son of uncertain lineage,
a boy to be born in troubled times,
this child was “from the Holy Spirit.”

He grasped the truth, and not rumor.
He felt awe, not fear.
He knew faith, not doubt.
And the voice told him what to do.
“…take Mary as your wife.”
“…name the son Jesus.” (Matthew 1:21–21, NRSV)
Hear the words of the prophet.
Find their fulfillment in your holy family.
Trust that the son is Emmanuel,
that he is God with us.

And now, fully awake,
aware of the day’s dawn
and of the unfolding grace of God,
the ear of his heart attuned
to the voice of the messenger,
the angel of the Lord,
this man, Joseph, rose from his bed.
He resolved to do as the messenger had commanded him.
He listened to the angel of the Lord.
He took Mary as his wife.
He shouldered the mantle of fatherhood.
He named their son Jesus,
“…for he would save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21, NRSV)

Joseph listened.
The God of angels and mortals
gave him the ears to hear,
the heart to trust,
the faith to believe,
the resolve to act,
the power to serve,
the will to persevere,
the courage to embrace the unknown.

Be still. Be quiet.
Listen for the voices of the angels.
They are the messengers of God.
They come to bear the news, the good news.
They come down from heaven
and walk in our midst.
They speak the words of hope and promise.
They say to us, “He is coming.
He, the Son of the Father, is coming.
He is coming soon.”

And so we sing with the angel choirs,
“Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.” Amen.