Third Friday of Advent
JER 23:5-8
PS 72: 1-2, 12-13, 18-19
MT 1:18-25
"Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel."
Joseph seems like the type of guy who followed the law. He didn’t want to hurt Mary, but at the same time Mary was going to bear a son without Joseph himself getting her pregnant. So originally he planned to quietly divorce her, unwilling to expose her to shame. Sometimes we think it was so easy for Joseph to allow Mary into his home, when in reality he had a lot at stake. He had his own family, a reputation and life to carry out. This particular passage, truly shows what a man totally trusted in God looks like. “When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.”
Our culture often pressures men to bail out when there is trouble. Joseph shows the way by obeying God over the pressures of prevailing culture, even if he will personally suffer for it. We are afraid to go down a road that is not lit for us, and mapped out just the way we think it should be.
Surrendering one’s self to God, there is freedom. We are free to say yes to what is right and good without any fear because God is with us. Sometimes things get difficult but there is an even greater reward in the end. When Joseph let Mary into his house, although there were plenty of reasons to say no, he was really answering God’s call.
Each one of us: students, co-workers, faculty and staff members are called by God. When we give up and obey by faith we will then use faith to obey. Faith and trust is how we pursue living out the life God has called us to do . It isn’t easy. First off, we have the urge of sin not to trust God. Secondly, God’s calling (his promises) are futuristic and thus unseen to us. So how do we give up and embrace that freedom? We have to pray and set our hearts on trusting God’s promises until the Holy Spirit strengthens our faith so much so that we say, I trust you Lord. And the reward is always greater than we can imagine.
Question:
Has there been a time in your life when you trusted the Lord and experienced his blessing? Do you have a sense of how God is using your current circumstances to prepare you for a great calling?
Molly Diehl is a junior majoring in Nutrition & Dietetics.
Every day during Advent, students, faculty, and staff from across the SLU community will share reflections on the intersection of the Scriptures of the day, the liturgical season of Advent, and their own lives.
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