A Prayer For Willingness To Be Responsible To Care For Others As God Has Cared For Me

DECEMBER 23 – Joseph and Responsibility

Well, we often hear these words read during celebrations surrounding Christmas – the story of how Joseph responded to the conception of Jesus.

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus. 

Matthew 1:18-25

Joseph is another one of those Christmas story characters who easily recedes into the background but who deserves our attention, our respect, and from whom we can learn a valuable lesson that is so needed now in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Joseph is not the father of Jesus.  God Himself is.  Therefore, Joseph didn’t really have any responsibility towards the baby Mary told him she was carrying in her womb.  He wasn’t married to Jesus’ mother.  He had not had sexual relations with her so no paternity test DNA would link him to Jesus in any way.  

To take on responsibility for parenting Jesus and raising him up really cost Joseph a lot – including his reputation in the community – being seen now not as a righteous man but a philanderer.  To take on responsibility for Jesus required an emotional investment to someone else’s child.  It required time and money and, in fact all of Joseph’s estate would legally pass on to someone other than his own flesh and blood if he took on responsibility for Jesus. 

But as we learn in the story, at the word of the Lord, Joseph simply got going and did what was asked of him. 

I wonder how many of us are willing to simply do what’s needed of us during this season of the pandemic to keep others healthy and safe?  Are we willing to shoulder a bit extra so someone else will do okay?  There are lots of groups that reach out to help the needy during this time - are we doing our part even though they can’t get their message out like they usually do so donors can be encouraged to share.  How are we taking care of our neighbour as Jesus taught us when he told us that we were to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and then love our neighbour as ourselves.

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  Matthew 22:37-39

Joseph is a great example of this for us as we come closer to Christmas.  Let’s pray to do the same.

Heavenly Father, You are the first great example of one who loves and who took responsibility for something that wasn’t Your fault.  That’s the whole story behind Jesus taking on flesh and becoming a vulnerable baby and dying on the cross in payment for our sins.  You took responsibility for us so we could find forgiveness and healing and a relationship with You that will last forever.

We’re grateful for examples like Joseph who were willing to listen to You and to respond in quiet obedience to what You told Him to do.  Help us to be willing to be unselfish as he was, to do the right thing even if others don’t understand what we are doing, and most of all to simply act in line with Your heart today. 

We don’t know what You will ask of us but we know that if You ask it, there’s a good reason, and what You promise that goes along with our following Your instructions is well worth any sacrifice we may need to make.

So today, would You help us to quiet our hearts to heart Your voice and then with great trust, take on whatever responsibility You show us You have in mind for us so others who are vulnerable are cared for.  Amen