Inconvenient Responsibility

Earlier this week we spoke about Joseph, Mary’s husband, and how he rose above the trauma of realizing that his fiancé was pregnant by someone other than himself.  He trusted God and didn’t divorce or harm Mary.  Instead, he took loving responsibility for her and for the baby who was to be born. 

Joseph did what God asked of him.  In this Christmas season I wonder how many of us are willing to simply do what’s needed of us even though it might be inconvenient?

Are we willing to shoulder a bit extra so someone else will do okay?  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

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 to 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 hear 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

Love God and love our neighbours as ourselves.  That’s the heart of this Christmas season.  It might be useful to take a moment and consider who we’d find it inconvenient to actually love and welcome into our circle and think about what it might mean to act in a way that reflects the example of inconvenient responsibility given us in the lives of Joseph and Jesus.