Sermons

Listen and Follow The Voice Inside
The Fourth Sunday of Advent 2007
The Very Rev. Tracey Lind
December 23, 2007

Today we hear the story of Joseph, who is perhaps the most neglected character in the Christmas saga. We worship Jesus; we exalt Mary; we marvel at the angels; we search with the shepherds; we stand in awe of the magi; the innkeeper embarrasses us; and we easily hate Herod. But Joseph, now there's another story. He rarely gets any attention in the traditional Christmas drama. In fact, sometimes he's presented as an afterthought. Not so, for the Gospel according to Matthew: this Christmas story is told from the perspective of Joseph.

According to tradition, Joseph was a young man, probably in his early twenties. He was a skilled carpenter, a craftsman who followed in the footsteps of his father. He came from an old and distinguished family, a descendant of King David. According to the biblical account, Joseph was a religious man whose entire life was prescribed by religious law, whose understanding of the whole was based on the active presence of God.

Joseph was engaged to be married, most likely an arranged marriage, to Mary, a teenage girl he probably had known all his life. The wedding date was set; the guest lists were finalized; the arrangements had been made; the dowry was in place; and everything was proceeding as planned. Joseph's life in was in order, good order, and then it happened – that fateful day.

Can you imagine the scene between Mary and Joseph? "Joseph, I have something to tell you." "What's that dear." "I'm pregnant." "You're what?!?" "I'm pregnant, but it's not what you think." "What do you mean...it's not what I think?"

Joseph shook his head and stared at his beloved fiancee in disbelief. Feeling betrayed, embarrassed and angry, Joseph considered his options. By right of law, he could publicly condemn her and divorce her (a betrothal was considered a legal contract); and because a woman who got pregnant out of wedlock was considered an adulterer, he could even call for her death by stoning. However, being a good and righteous man, Joseph decided on an alternative response, a gentler way. Rather than expose Mary to public humiliation and harsh punishment, he would divorce her quietly and start over.

Joseph went home that night from Mary's house utterly exhausted. Perhaps, he stopped at a tavern on his way home to ease his sorrows with a glass of wine, or maybe, he took a walk along the darkened streets or into the countryside. I wouldn't be surprised if he had gone into his carpentry shop and sanded a piece of wood for a few hours. Who knows what Joseph did after the break-up?

Eventually, Joseph went home to bed. For a long time, he tossed and turned. Finally, he fell asleep. That night Joseph had a restless but deep sleep, the kind that overtakes us when we're upset beyond words and tears. And then it happened...the dream. Have you ever noticed how you dream on those nights when you're really upset?

Dreaming is an incredible thing. Our dreams are about ourselves - our deepest, most genuine selves, our destiny, if you will. According to Carl Jung, if we listen to our dreams, we can hear the messages of God, the holy voice inside ourselves. Sometimes, we hear it dimly and other times loud and clear. I think dreaming is God's way of reaching us when we've determined to block God out. And, as the voice of God inside of me once spoke, if we all would listen and follow the divine voice inside, God's eternal reign of peace and justice would probably come.

Matthew's Gospel tells us "An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream." (Mt 1:20) The angel told Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife, because "the child conceived in her was from the Holy Spirit." (Mt 1:20) The angel went on to say, "She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." (Mt 1:21) What would you think when you awoke in the morning (or perhaps, the middle of the night) from such an incredible dream?

Joseph awoke from his dream, his followed the divine voice inside himself, and did as it commanded him. He took Mary as his wife. He protected her through her pregnancy, and he named his newborn son Jesus, "the one who saves." After a night of dreaming with God, Joseph was a changed person with a new destiny.

It is really an extraordinary story. Joseph, like Mary, did an extraordinary thing: he overcame his fear and followed the challenging invitation of God to participate in something called the Incarnation - the making of God's word into flesh, the transforming of God's energy into human reality. Joseph and Mary, like others before them, said "Yes" to the divine voice, and in doing so, joined in the great unfolding drama of God's salvation for the world.

As we approach the eve of Christmas, I say pay attention to your dreams. Listen to the voice of God deep inside of you; hear the ruminations of the night, and follow where they lead. For God has great things in mind. We just have to listen, follow, and do our part as we participate in the story of salvation.

And may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of God's son, our Savior who, through the courageous hope of Mary and Joseph, was born on Christmas Day. Amen.