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December 23, 2007 Rev. Steve Gehlert The Bible is full of great speakers, people to whom God gave something to say, and a way to say it. It starts with Moses, who said he was no good with words, but whom God gave the words to say to mighty Pharoah, and who could put it to the Hebrews when they grumbled, were ungrateful, or turned from God's way. Then there was Miriam, who sang her joyful song at the Red sea, "The Lord has triumphed gloriously, horse and rider he has thrown into the sea." And then comes Joshua, and that great speech he gave as the Hebrews were ready to cross the Jordan and enter the promise land, to remind them that couldn't have it both ways, but must choose between Yahweh, the God who'd set them free and given them the law to live by, and the gods of the people all around them, "Choose this day whom you will serve," he said, "but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Then comes Samuel, the greatest of the Judges, who even as a child knew what to say when God called, "Speak Lord, your servant is listening." Then, there's all prophets: Nathan, confronting King David about arranging the death of his mistress Bathsheba's husband, so he could take her for his wife; Elijah confronting Queen Jezebel and all the prophets of Baal. And on it goes – Elisha, Amos, Hosea, Micah, Zechariah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Isaiah. When you get to the New Testament it starts right off with Mary's beautiful words when she learns that she will be the mother of the messiah. Then there's John the Baptist's firey preaching. And Jesus, he's just amazing with words, a master teacher. At Pentecost there's Peter's speech. Later, Paul's eloquence about many things. But then, then there's also Joseph. Joseph who says nothing. I remember a Christmas pageant, back in Wisconsin. On Christmas Eve, we had quite a dilemma. The director came running to my office, muttering, "We have no Joseph! We have no Joseph!" She breathlessly explained that the child who was to play Joseph was taken by a terrible case of nausea (stage fright?) just before he was to leave home and come to church. His mother had called to say that he wouldn't be in the pageant. We had no Joseph. And I said, "Well, let one of the shepherds stand in, just have him be by the manger with Mary. Nobody will notice. Joseph doesn't even have a speaking part." And we did it, and it worked out fine. But after reading again today's Gospel, I realize that I was wrong. We really need a Joseph. Joseph is indispensable at Christmas; couldn't have it without him. Oh, he's easy to overlook. We all know about Mary the mother of Jesus and her contribution to our savior's birth. All we know about him is that he was a carpenter, and what we can infer from that. A good carpenter is organized: each tool in the right place, just when you need it. Most good carpenters are good at math, exact. "Measure twice, cut once," is how they say it. All lines straight and precise. And yet, when God intrudes into Joseph's world, things begin to get messy. His fiancé Mary was pregnant, and not by him. Joseph's once well-ordered universe begins to come apart. Then the emperor commanded – everyone back to their hometown to register for taxes. Joseph had little to get by on as it was, and with a baby on the way, what would the Romans demand next? But Joseph dutifully loaded his wife now "great with child" on his donkey and made the long journey down the rocky road back to Bethlehem, the city of his ancestors. Joseph's world had come apart, and there seemed no possibility now of getting things back together anytime soon. Orderly, careful, exact Joseph, cast into a mess that was not of his own devising. And by just doing what he was told, stumbling along without knowing where things were headed, Joseph took his place in God's story, wading through the mess, led by God to an uncertain future. Mary sang a song of joy when the angel told her she was going to have a baby and to name the baby Jesus, which means, savior. But Joseph was too stunned, too disrupted, too confused to sing. The angel didn't speak first to him, he had to get the news second hand, from Mary. So he was troubled. But then an angel came to him and said, "Don't be afraid!" Just what the angel had said to Mary. The words are important because Joseph, like Mary, had much to fear. Joseph, like Mary, finds himself cast into a great drama that could turn out to be a great tragedy. He didn't ask for the role of husband-to-be of the woman who would courageously bear God's messiah into the world. Joseph was a man who worked with his hands, a man of few words. But he listened to the angel. He did what the angel said. He wasn't afraid. Not one word from Joseph is recorded in the Gospels. He just took his place in the story without songs or speeches, stumbling along the road to Bethlehem. Now do you see why it's important to have Joseph on stage when we tell the story of Jesus? Because Joseph is there for some of you. You may be like Joseph, the strong silent type. Music may not be the way you praise God. You may not be big on theology (literally: "words about God"). You just stumble along doing your best to be faithful, not knowing exactly where the journey will end. And that's what Joseph did. He not only stuck with Mary and the baby, but he led them to safety in Egypt when Herod's terrible massacre of Jewish babies began. He loaded mother and child on a donkey and set out for Egypt. And there, quietly, with no fanfare and without a word mentioned in the Gospels, he made them a home and watched as the child grew in some refugee camp. And then, after Herod's death, Joseph returned home, doing his part to bear the Christ child into the world. There are those who serve God by saying courageous things, things that challenge people, get them to think, sometimes make them uncomfortable, by calling them to God's way. There are those who serve God by doing courageous deeds in daily life. But today, we're reminded that there are those strong, silent types, who serve God by simply standing with God, standing for God, silently, courageously standing there. That's what Joseph, a "strong, silent type" if there ever was one, did. That's why Joseph reminds me of some of you. Does he remind any of you of yourselves? We're getting ready to receive the baby Jesus. Our pageant of the incarnation is about to be enacted. Will you find your place on that stage? Will you become part of the drama of God with us in Christ? Even if you don't know exactly what such a role might demand of you, even if you don't know how the story will end, even if you're not good with words, will you stumble along wherever you are led? I think we've got our Joseph, lots of strong, silent types, perfect people to play the quiet, courageous disciple. Go stand next to Mary as everyone calls her shameful. Go with her on that difficult journey. Go stand by the manger. Take your place. The curtain's being raised. The drama is ready to begin. |
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