Reading: Proverbs 3:3-4 (NRSV)
Songs: Joseph’s Lullaby (lyrics here), A Strange Way to Save the World (lyrics here), Joseph’s Song (lyrics here)
For today’s reflection, you’re invited to read before you listen, as listening to the songs is part of the reflection/prayer response.
For this week, we will be looking each day at a person or group that plays a key part in the Christmas story. Today we consider Joseph of Nazareth.
Joseph is someone we know so little about. A carpenter, betrothed to Mary, from the line of David…that’s about it on the surface. Thankfully, Matthew gives us additional insight into Joseph in his account of Jesus’ birth, insight that sheds light on the character of this person who appears so little in the biblical witness. From Matthew’s telling we can derive a few important things about Jesus’ adoptive father:
-He was faithful to the law (Matt. 1:19)
-He wanted to show compassion to Mary (Matt. 1:19)
-He had deep faith in God, shown in his response to the angel’s message (Matt. 1:24-25)
-He was willing to face public scorn by taking Mary as his wife (Matt. 1:24-25)
-He was a protective father who obeyed God’s guidance to keep the child safe (Matt. 2:13-23)
Joseph strikes me as someone who was an embodiment of Proverbs 3:3-4:
“Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor and good repute
in the sight of God and of people.”
Today for our reflections on Joseph you’re invited to listen to three songs that have been written about him, in fact, written from his perspective. Of course, they’re pure conjecture. But they fit with the picture of Joseph we’re able to sketch from the biblical text. As you listen and reflect on the words, meditate on these questions:
What qualities seem to define Joseph? How do they reflect the love of God? What qualities shown in Joseph would you pray that the Holy Spirit builds deeper into your life?