Matthew 1:18-25 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 1:18-25 on biblegateway.com
Verse 18Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Verse 19Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. Verse 20But just when he had resolved to do 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 as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. Verse 21She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." Verse 22All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: Verse 23"Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." Verse 24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, Verse 25but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
Devotion
Today we light the fourth candle on our Advent wreaths—that defiant final flame against deep darkness. Advent night is far spent and our salvation is near. In our readings this week, the light shines into Joseph’s worried nights, Hannah and Sarah’s barren disappointments and Mary’s holy burden. The lighting of this final candle ignites our final countdown to Christmas. If it mocks our unfulfilled ambitions for Advent, it does so with the gift of ever-increasing light over our darkness. The angel announces, “Get up, now. Do not be afraid to go forward.” As Joseph’s life takes new direction in the face of this light, so does ours. We are not in control but, in our darkness, God is with us, comforting and guiding. The light of Christ flickers on the horizon.
Prayer
When we wrestle with fear in our own deep darkness, Christ, be our light. Amen.