Christmas ViewpointSample

Joseph, A Man of Considerable Character

'This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered 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 home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.'

Joseph seemed to be in a moral quandary. The woman he loved and to whom was promised to him was expecting a child, and not his. There were Jewish laws for situations like this, and, as a good Jew, he wanted to do what was right, but then he had a dream. This baby was not the result of an illicit affair but the work of the Holy Spirit.

We do not hear much about Joseph except that he was a man who was faithful to the law, but Joseph's underlying character is critical in the nativity story. Joseph didn’t react hastily; he took his time to consider the situation. Joseph wanted to spare Mary from disgrace. In the waiting of not acting impetuously, the angel of the Lord visited him in a dream, and Joseph obediently took on the role of earthly protector and provider for Mary and the Christ Child.

Viewpoint Reflection

Have you ever acted rashly and paid a consequence? Have you ever stepped back and taken more time for thought and prayer? What did you learn in both circumstances? Be specific about the lesson(s) learned.