Isaiah 35:1-10
Psalm 146
James 5: 7-10
Matthew 11:2-11
When the attack on innocent civilians took place on September 11th, it not only took innocent civilian lives - it also left innocent civilian mothers with unborn babies. There were 16 such mothers and PRIMETIME television brought them all together on Thursday to meet and learn from one another. It was a very sad and moving segment but yet one filled with hope and promise. There was one mother's story which struck me as being especially full of hope and love.
One woman whose husband was a stock broker had his brother and his friends present at the birth of this newborn.They had pictures of the dad in the delivery room as a way of remembering him. After a successful delivery, they all commented on how much the newborn baby looked like her father. Yes, a husband and father had died but the widow and his brother and friends had the same feelings about their newborn as Joseph and Mary had about Jesus. It's the same feeling most parents have when they have a baby. There is a hope that this child's life will somehow be better than our own. In this instance, I am sure all were hoping that no danger would ever touch this child - that somehow she would be protected from all the evil and nasty things that could happen to a person in this world. It may be that one way hope comes into life is in the shape of a baby. Perhaps this baby was a way of God telling this woman and family not to be afraid anymore.
In the Gospel today, the angel tells Joseph "don't be afraid." She goes on to say that "Mary is pregnant because God has chosen her to be the mother of Jesus. She is pregnant by the Holy Spirit"
Joseph had the courage and faith to go with the request, marry Mary and raise Jesus as his own son.
When any of us is asked to be in relation with Jesus, the process of beginning and developing that relationship is the same for us as it was for Joseph.
First, there is the messenger. The messenger's first words must be "don't be afraid." We aren't afraid of people when we know they will love us unconditionally. Another way to put it is that nothing in this world will separate us from the love of God - not in life, not in death. The safety of the messenger determines whether or not we receive the message as Good News. When people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus' love, normally someone in a safe and loving relation with that person carries the message. If you are blessed with a saving knowledge of Jesus, you probably heard it from someone who loved you unconditionally. You heard it from someone who doesn't make you afraid.
We assume Joseph was acquainted with Scripture and the teachings from the prophet Isaiah. So Joseph was not afraid and he was open to God even if the message went against the conventions of the day. Joseph did as he was urged to do - when the baby came, he made him his own. Jesus grew in Joseph's heart.
Aren't we each a little like Joseph? Jesus must grow in our hearts in the way that a child can grow in the heart of a parent or grandparent as most of you know too well. Maybe it's why God gives us human beings in the shape of babies - so we will have an opportunity to love unconditionally. Those mothers - all widows - will learn what sacrificial love means as the interests and needs of their child are put above their own.
Joseph received an extraordinary message. The angel said, "This child is "God with us" or Emmanuel. So the baby Jesus is a source of hope, not just for Mary and Joseph and those 16 mothers of the World Trade Center attack, but for all humankind for all eternity.
This is a huge assignment for a baby. It's a big assignment for the father of this baby. This unconventional couple, Mary and Joseph didn't fail in their mission. Didn't God choose the most unlikely persons and couple to work for him?
Jesus grew up to be the absolute fulfillment of "God with us." His life among us, the overwhelming love shown for us through his death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead, change everything. He gives us hope, and more hope for those 16 mothers. Joyfully we can hope for the restoration of all relationships that are part of his life, death and resurrection through our Baptisms and confessions of faith. The angels are telling us "not to be afraid." God is with us and you are loved by God unconditionally. This is the message of Christmas and a far cry from the secular one - buy, buy and buy more!
Jesus loves you -he loves us and he is truly the hope and light of the world. Go tell this story to all whom you come in contact - through your word and example and in all that you do - invite them to St. Stephen's to hear this message - "Don't be afraid - put your trust in Jesus this Christmas 2001 and dare to follow him. He loves you more than you and I can ever even imagine!!!