January 4, 2009
Grace Church
Rev. Robert E. Hensley

Jeremiah 31:7-14; Psalm 84:1-8; Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-19a; Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

      Let us pray.  O God, who from the family of your servant David raised up Joseph to be the guardian of your incarnate Son and the spouse of his virgin mother:  Give us grace to imitate his uprightness of life and his obedience to your commands; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.  (Collect for St. Joseph’s Day, March 19, BCP, p. 239) 
 

      “Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse.”  This petition from the Divine Praises which are prayed regularly in the Anglo-Catholic tradition of our church is one that I meditate upon frequently for a number of reasons.  Called by God, perhaps not altogether willingly to be the guardian of God’s incarnate son by the Mother Mary, he never-the-less took on this role and in so doing became a role model.  Relegated for the most part to a secondary role in salvation history, we do not know much that is factual about him.  But there are a few things that we do know and I want to share them with you and offer them for your own meditation this morning.  
 

      Joseph is believed to have been the third son of Jacob, a shepherd from Bethlehem. Now Joseph was a dutiful son, but he did not take to shepherding like his two older brothers. On his own, he apprenticed himself to Matthias, the local master carpenter. By the age of sixteen, Joseph was near a master carpenter himself. For a long time, it is said that he had his eye on Mary, the daughter of the priest Joachim and his wife Anna. Mary was shy and modest but Joseph was even shyer. Neither of them would talk about how they met but rumors held that he surprised her at the local bath pond or, maybe, she surprised him. They were of an age and most folks expected them to marry once Joseph had proved himself a competent carpenter. 
 

      Joseph and Mary were betrothed but she still lived with her parents and he still lived in his family's compound of dwellings along with caves for the animals. On a midsummer’s day Mary supposedly tearfully told Joseph that she was with child and silently awaited his reaction with her head hung down. Now Joseph was a thoughtful man…I suspect an “INTJ” on the Myers-Briggs scale. Many times his master had said to anyone who stopped long enough to hear that Joseph had more patience than Job and a better temper too. Mary finally grew tired of waiting for Joseph’s outburst and looked up into his face only to see a profound sense of wonder there. Mary, deciding she was in this deep, that she might as well give Joseph the rest of the story.   So she explained that a fiery being of light had come to her, in a dream…perhaps…and told her that she had been selected by Yahweh to bear a son, a savior for their people. Mary went on to say that she was frightened and elated and scared and that she found she had a sense of peace and rightness like nothing she had ever known before. She said to Joseph that she was told to name the boy…yes; it would be a boy, Jesus. 
 

      Joseph held his peace with an unearthly look of wonder or awe written all over his face. Mary began to become truly frightened by the look on his face and his lack of reaction. She blurted out if he would still marry her or at least not denounce her, they could tell whatever story to explain her state he wished. She would even admit to having been raped by a Roman soldier to her shame, if that was what he wanted. Finally, Mary achieved a reaction from Joseph, although not the one she had expected. Joseph lifted his head and laughed. Now there is laughter and then there is laughter. What Mary heard had no hurt or derision in it but only love and joy. Incredulous, Mary just stared at Joseph while he wiped tears of joy from his eyes. 
 

      After a time to calm himself, Joseph professed his love once more and launched into a tale nearly as preposterous as her own. Joseph told of a visitation by some ancient grandfatherly being arrayed in garments so white it hurt his eyes to gaze upon the man. This messenger told Joseph that Mary had been chosen by Yahweh to bear a son to bring healing to the world. Then the messenger told Joseph to take Mary home with him and make her his wife. Joseph then told Mary that he felt this was the right thing to do.  
 

      That day Joseph took her to his parents’ dwelling and said they were now husband and wife. The next day they gathered her possessions from her parents’ home and settled her into the space allotted them in his parent’s home.  
 

      Joseph suggested that Mary should announce that she had been asked to visit her elder cousin, Elizabeth, who was with child with only her equally elderly husband, Zachariah, to help her. Mary did as Joseph suggested and left as soon as arrangements could be made. When Mary arrived in the hill country and entered the home of Zachariah and Elizabeth, she was taken aback by Elizabeth’s breaking into song, prophesying concerning Mary’s child and praising Mary for the favor showered upon her by Yahweh. Mary was stunned but then found herself answering her cousin in words very much like those of Hannah and her song. 
 

      Now in those days, Zachariah was mute and could only communicate with a wax tablet. There was much to do with Elizabeth to ready the house for the birth of Elizabeth’s child. Zachariah was not much help and besides, this was woman's work. They made a suitable bed for Elizabeth’s baby and as the time of birth neared, Mary began to show herself. Now the neighbors thought this was great sport for Mary, the newlywed and Elizabeth, an ancient one of fifty years of age to be pregnant at the same time and in the same house. Finally the day arrived for Elizabeth to give birth. The local women gathered and ushered Zachariah outside with their husbands for the wait.

      Mary was to stay until the new son was named on the eighth day of life. A fellow priest came and asked Elizabeth what they wanted to name the boy, in that Zachariah could not speak for them. She said with no hesitation she wanted the boy named John. Now there were no John’s in the family and the priest turned to Zachariah and said in his direction, "Surely you want to name the boy Zachariah." At first he only shook his head in frustration. Finally Zachariah made it clear he wanted the wax tablet. He wrote the boy’s name is John. With that Zachariah’s tongue was loosed and the long pent up words just overflowed, filling the house with praises and laughter and enough noise to make those gathered fear for their wits. At last Zachariah wound down and then related his encounter with a bright and fiery messenger the last time his term had come to go into the altar and the Holy of Holies in Jerusalem Temple. While everyone else wondered what this all meant, Mary just treasured these events in her heart and prepared to return to her husband. 
 

      At four months after Mary’s encounter with her messenger, as the seasons were shifting to fall, the time came for her to return home to Joseph and her new family. She was nervous about her pregnancy but her mother-in-law took her state as a blessing from Yahweh on her son and his bride.  
 

      As Mary’s time was moving along and the winter was coming to an end, the Roman governor announced that Caesar had called for a census of all of his many peoples. Everyone was to travel to their home town to be counted and taxed. Now that in itself did not immediately affect Mary or Joseph, however the closer the time came for her delivery, the more distant family members arrived at the compound in Bethlehem. Joseph quietly told his mother that if he or Mary were truly needed they would be in one of the caves with the livestock where there was at least a modicum of peace and quiet. 
 

      Much to Joseph’s surprise, Martha, his mother, clapped her hands, smiled and said what a thoughtful father he was becoming. With her help, Mary and Joseph made things as comfortable as possible for them in the last and least used of the caves. Only a milk cow and an old donkey resided there and neither seemed to mind the company.  
 

      According to tradition, Mary’s birth was not quick or easy.  A little more than two hours after sunset, a fine baby boy was born.  Joseph was tired with worrying about Mary and Mary just wanted to feed her son and sleep. So Joseph fussed about some making Mary comfortable. 
 

      They had just settled down with their son, Jesus, lying in the manger on new hay and soft clothes when there came a faint scratching at the cave door. In poked the head of a shepherd begging entrance and then proclaiming the most marvelous sight. Soon he had entered with three of his companions and they were telling about a host of fiery creatures singing in the heavens and praising Yahweh most joyfully. The spokesman for the shepherds admitted to quaking in their sandals but the heavenly host spoke to them and said this was a time of great joy and wonder for all people in heaven and on earth. For a savior was even then coming into the world. The fiery one even told them how to find the child and there they were. Each shepherd asked shyly if he could just see this child of such portent. Joseph was amazed but Mary just treasured these new things into her heart. 
 

      On the morning of the eighth day, Joseph went to fetch the local priest for the naming of Jesus and his circumcision. This was accomplished with the family gathered round with much rejoicing, and after the proscribed time, Joseph and Mary took Jesus and two turtle doves and set out for Jerusalem for Mary’s rite of purification and Jesus’ ransom as a first born. There was still just a bit of a nip of cool in the air as they set out. One of Joseph’s best customers even lent him a mule for Mary to ride on while carrying Jesus. This allowed the family to arrive by mid morning between the early morning rush and the expected crowd drawn in at time of the early afternoon sun. The purification was accomplished with routine ease as was the sacrifice offered for Jesus’ life. Mary had Jesus in her arms when an elderly man approached her and Joseph. They stepped to the side to allow this revered man to pass by but he came right up to them and oh so gently touched Jesus’ brow and lifted praises up to Yahweh and told how the time appointed for his death had now arrived. Little of this made sense to either Mary or Joseph. This old man, Simeon by name, went on to say that a savior had come to Israel and blessed were his parents. Both Joseph and Mary were puzzled but neither spoke, not wanting to break what was clearly a magical moment. 
 

      Soon Simeon left to enter the inner portion of the temple. Now Joseph and Mary had not taken more than a dozen steps toward the door when a white haired woman of great years approached the couple. Mary was taken aback by the woman’s expression of rapture written all over her face. Joseph seemed to take this apparition in stride. Anna, the prophetess, spoke more gently than her demeanor had suggested. She entranced Mary with her words so that Mary even allowed her hold Jesus. Again, words of prophesy and praise rained upon Joseph and Mary concerning Jesus, but with an undercurrent that hurt and sadness had a role to play. With a confused shake of her head, Mary took back Jesus and told herself that if she held these words in her heart, it would all come to her in time. Joseph took Mary gently by the arm and led her back to the mule for their return to Bethlehem. 
 

      As the springtime worn into summer, Joseph began to build their own house, a true home for Mary and Jesus and him. With help from the neighbors and his brothers, the house was ready for priestly blessing by the end of the summer. With much joy and celebration Joseph and Mary moved into their own home with Jesus. This was a good time for them all. Joseph’s work continued to prosper and Mary became one with his family while still devoting time with her parents. With no brothers or sisters, she was closer to her father and her mother than most of those living by there with families of four to six children and maybe three or four generations living in adjoining buildings. 
 

      Jesus was almost eighteen months old and talking like he was three when the next interesting occurrence happened. The sun was just setting and Joseph had not been home from his shop anytime when there came a soft, almost gentle knocking at their door.  Mary opened the door to find four men, richly dressed and bearing cloth wrapped items in their arms. Down the lane Mary could see two horses, three donkeys and a camel with two finely appointed servants keeping them. Mary meekly inquired what she could do for them. The tallest and most distinguished asked if they could see the child born king of the Jews. Mary replied there surely must be some mistake while Joseph joined her at the door. These men looked at each other and then another one, shorter, more plump but equally richly dressed replied they had each seen the child’s star and had come to find what this all meant. The first went on that today in Jerusalem they had learned that the king they sought was to be born in Bethlehem of Judea. He added there was no mistake. Mary became frightened with the mention of Jerusalem and kings. Everyone knew Herod’s reputation. The oldest of the four travelers saw the fear in Mary’s eyes and bowed on his knees and repeated the request of the first speaker, could they please see the child. They all professed that they meant no harm and certainly would not tell Herod or anyone else of this revelation which had happened to them. Finally Joseph took Mary by the arm and said to let them in. 
 

      These travelers, apparently star gazers, came in and bowed down before Jesus while he rested by the hearth. Jesus woke to find the four strangers bowing down to him, prostrating themselves on the clean dirt floor of the house. Jesus giggled, smiled and blessed them with the blessing of Aaron. It was not possible to tell who was more surprised, Joseph or Mary, but the astrologers took it all in stride. Each unwrapped a gift for Jesus, handing them to Mary to show the child. One brought a small sack of coins, gold coins such as neither Mary nor Joseph had ever seen in their lives. The second offered rich incense and the third gave them a costly ointment. The fourth and last one brought out a perfect pearl from the sea and offered it up. Mary and Joseph complained they could not accept such rich gifts from these strangers. The distinguished first speaker said their gifts fell far short of what each of them wished to do for this child but begged the parents to use the gifts for the child king’s benefit. With those words, the four men quietly left the house and walked back down the lane to their animals and rode off to the south, away from Jerusalem.  
 

      That night Mary and Joseph each had a disturbing dream telling each of them that the time had come to leave the district and move away from Herod’s influence. Joseph knew of a small town near a booming metropolis north of Samaria called Nazareth in need of a carpenter. In the following week Joseph made a cart, sold their home and his shop and the three of them prepared for a new life. And still Mary treasured all these wondrous events in her heart of hearts. 
 

      This meditation was inspired by a similar work by Mac Todd, MD, of the Diocese of Southern Virginia, and a delegate to the upcoming General Convention.