Be a Dreamer (Mt 1:18-24)

An angel appearing to Joseph in dream would not have seemed unusual to him, or to the ancient Israelites (Mt. 1:20).  Scripture records many such dreams as a means of divine communication and prophecy.  For example, the First Book of Kings records the dream of Solomon wherein he receives wisdom from God (1 Kings 3:12).  Genesis describes the dream of Joseph, the beloved son of Jacob, whose dream was about his own fate and that of his family before being sold into slavery by his brothers (Gen 37:5-11).  Matthew records the dream of the wise men who are warned to take a different route home to avoid the danger posed by Herod (Mt 2:12).  

Foiled by the Magi, Herod does not let up.  For that reason, soon after the birth of Jesus, Joseph receives a second dream instructing him to flee with his family to Egypt to avoid the violence of Herod.  Yes, Mary, Joseph and Jesus were indeed refugees like the many refugees of today who must flee their homes for safety reasons.  In any case, the dreams recorded in scripture were meant to prepare the dreamer for action, and preparation is the heart of every Advent season.

Before Joseph has his first dream, however, he becomes aware that Mary is pregnant.  How he becomes aware of that the story does not reveal, but his awareness brings about a difficult dilemma for him.  The Mosaic Law requires that he now renounce his promise of marriage to Mary because of her apparent infidelity.  He has two options in that regard.  He can do so in a very public manner that exposes Mary to public scorn, humiliation, and possibly even death by stoning as prescribed by the Law.  Or, the alternative provides that Joseph give Mary a discreet bill of divorce that avoids such dreadful consequences.  Because he is compassionate and merciful, Joseph chooses the latter option and plans to divorce Mary in a private manner.  

Mary also faces a difficult time of decision.  Because she is an unmarried woman and pregnant, she is aware of the likely threatening consequences that will come about by accepting the proposal delivered by Gabriel.  Such consequences include a humiliating bill of divorce from Joseph and the ultimate possibility of death by stoning.  We know how Mary courageously faced these adverse consequences to become the mother of Jesus.  Her consent expresses her profound faith and trust in the Lord.

Ironically, the way Joseph initially chooses to resolve his own dilemma would have helped Mary resolve her situation in a satisfactory manner as well.  Before Joseph carries out his decision, however, lo and behold, an angel of the Lord appears to him in a dream.  The angel reassures him about his original marriage plans with Mary, which is enough for Joseph.  Although he cannot foresee the full consequences of following the inspiration of the Lord, Joseph sets aside his personal judgement and fear to comply with the angel’s instruction.  

Like Mary, Joseph places his trust in the Lord and goes against the grain of public opinion to do the right thing—follow the right road—despite the hardship that such a choice will bring about for him.  His response mirrors the faith and trust that Mary places in the Lord.  Their story of faith and trust in the Lord despite the consequences is an ancient story that we commemorate and celebrate in a special way on Christmas day and throughout the season.

Given the way we have idealized and romanticized their story, however, we tend to overlook the difficult challenges Mary and Joseph had to endure and resolve.  For one, at serious stake for both is their intimate relationships and reputation with family and friends.  These relationships could easily deteriorate and turn ugly, or cease altogether, depending on how others viewed their decisions.  The same holds true with respect to their standing in their faith community.  Indeed, their personal identities—how they saw themselves and how others understood them—could, and most likely would be altered forever by the decisions they made.  Indeed, their entire spiritual fate is at stake.  The unavoidable degree of fear and unimaginable difficulty Mary and Joseph must have endured in their situation are important but often overlooked aspects of their story that offer inspiration for us today.

In fact, Mary and Joseph are iconic examples of how to resolve any conflict and do the right thing.  How they faced the fear and anxiety of unexpected challenges with family, friends, and community offers inspiration to all those in difficult situations.  This is especially true for those who are poor, homeless, refugees, immigrants, and those who must flee their homes for safety reasons.  Mary and Joseph also offer support and encouragement for those who must deal with painful stress and unavoidable disruptions in family life.  

Most of us find inspiration in the story of Mary and Joseph because we see ourselves as independent agents willing to go against the grain of public opinion to do the right thing.  We pride ourselves on our determination to live by our humanitarian values in helping the poor and homeless, for example, despite the fact that we too can be a fearful people.  But, sometimes our fear leads us instead to protect ourselves by rejecting, shunning, and ostracizing those who are different from us—any person or group that does not fit our view of the world and our purpose in it.  

Sometimes, we add ridicule and condemnation to further separate ourselves from those who are different.  The many recent violent attacks against minority groups of one kind or another is one hideous example of how fear sometimes ignites a violent response to that which is different.  This contradiction in values and the underlying fear that often motivates a distasteful and dreadful response is what the dream of Joseph is all about.

For that reason, the way in which Joseph ultimately resolves his conflict provides a message of hope and guidance for us today.  Although Joseph’s first response is to let public opinion and fear drive his choice to quietly divorce Mary, he ultimately puts his total trust in the Lord.  With courage, he follows a new path of love and compassion.  If he looks like a sinner, so be it.  Joseph had a conflict of values that he resolved by placing his trust in the Lord; likewise for Mary.

We can do the same.  We can hand ourselves over to the Holy Spirit.  We can place our trust in the Lord and allow him to guide and inspire our choices, especially those choices that are difficult and possibly disruptive to our daily routines.  And, like Joseph and Mary, we can be sure of the outcome.  Joseph’s dream and his decisions echo the ancient proverb, “Trust in the Lord in all things” (Prov 3:5).  Like Joseph and Mary, we can be confident that the Lord works all things to the good for those who love him (Rm 8:28).  Let their inspiration and trust in the Lord be the heart of our Advent and Christmas celebration.

Faith and Trust is the Way (Lk 1:5-25

Luke uses an interesting strategy with his back-to-back positioning of the two annunciation stories—the birth of John the Baptist immediately followed by the birth of Jesus story.  These two stories invite a comparison that reveals some lessons for us today.  For one, such a comparison shows that no matter how bleak things may appear or how confused we may be, we have every reason to trust that God will show us the way (Ps 28:7).  God yearns for our trust such that faith in God calls for trust in God (Prov 3:5; Ps 62:9).

Luke demonstrates this point with the questions that Zechariah and Mary raise in their encounters with Gabriel.  Each asks Gabriel, in a similar but slightly different way, how the message he delivers will come about.  The similarity in their questions, however, conceals a difference in their motives.  

Zechariah’s question—how shall I know this—asks for proof.  Zechariah already knows how because Gabriel has just explained that Zechariah’s prayer has been answered.  His wife, Elizabeth, is pregnant.  Gabriel adds details of the child’s name, how joyful the event will be, and the many great things John will accomplish.  Zechariah still wants to know why he should believe Gabriel since he and his wife are beyond childbearing years.  His question thus reveals a lack of trust in God.  It’s as though he doesn’t believe God would, or perhaps even could, make such a thing happen in his and Elizabeth’s old age.

Gabriel’s response shows disappointment in Zechariah.  Gabriel responds that he comes as a messenger from God, and therefore, Zechariah has no reason to question his authority or the message.  Because Zechariah does not trust God, he will be unable to speak until the naming of John.  He does not understand that faith in God calls for trust in God.   

Mary, on the other hand, has the opposite reaction in her encounter with Gabriel.  After Gabriel explains all that is about to happen, he waits for her response, for apparently none of what he predicts will unfold without her consent.  Mary’s first response, however, is not to consent, but to ask for more information.  Her question to Gabriel—how can this be—reveals surprise and confusion.  She does not understand because she is not having relations with a man.  Her current marital status alone justifies her wanting to know how all this will come about.  She is not asking for proof.  She just wants to know how.  

Gabriel honors her request with further explanation.  He even goes further with an offer of proof by revealing that Elizabeth is now pregnant with John.  At this point, Mary does indeed consent, but her consent does not reflect understanding on her part.  Rather, her consent—be it done unto me according to your word—expresses a profound belief and trust that things will work out for the best.  Mary shows that faith in God calls for trust in God.

Mary’s reaction and consent is a daring example of trusting in God despite the risks involved, known and unknown.  Mary has everything to lose in this situation.  She is a young, single woman with no social status or independent means of support.  Giving her consent therefore would seriously jeopardize her reputation and continued good standing in the community.  Exposure of her pregnancy might even lead to death by stoning.  Mary is aware of this and more, and yet, she places her trust in God.  She shows that, sometimes, trusting in God means that we follow our heart no matter the possible consequences.

In contrast, Zechariah’s lack of trust is an example of how fear and doubt can lead us away from the right road.  Zechariah had devoted his life to serving God as prophet and priest.  He had been favored with visions from God, and for that, was held in high esteem by his faith community (Lk 1:8-9).  Placing his trust in God at this crucial moment would have reaffirmed the authenticity of his religious role and leadership in the community.  God’s answer to his persistent prayer would offer additional evidence in that regard.  Apparently, the risk stemming from doubt is too great for Zechariah, and he cannot express hope and trust.  He does not realize that faith in God calls for trust in God.      

One final point from these stories is that God looks to our hearts for our true motives.  We cannot fool God.  The way we live in response to his inspiration and grace is proof positive of what is in our hearts.  Our lives always reflect our true motives.  As Proverbs puts it, "Every way of a man seems right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart" (Prov 21:2).  For, the Lord sees not as we humans see.  We go by appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Sam 16:7).  In the end, these annunciation stories show that God yearns for our trust.  No matter how bleak things may appear or how confused we may be, we have every reason to trust that God will show us the way.  Faith in God calls for trust in God.

Just Ask (Mt 9:27-31)

The story about Jesus healing the two blind men is a story that reveals our need for the light of Christ and the way to receive that light.  The irony in this story is that, in a spiritual sense, the two men have no need of healing.  They already see with the eyes of faith.  They clearly see and understand that Jesus has the power to do just that, heal them of their blindness.  They demonstrate their belief in answer to his question, do you believe that I can do this.  When they answer yes, Jesus affirms their steadfast faith and spiritual vision by restoring their physical sight.  They simply ask and Jesus responds.

This story highlights a common need for spiritual light as the way to be healed of spiritual blindness.  Jesus highlights this need when he says that “the lamp of the body is the eye.  It follows that if your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light.  But if your eye is bad, your entire body will be in darkness,” and that darkness is great indeed (Mt 6:22-23).  In putting it this way, Jesus describes the need for light in both a physical and a spiritual sense. 

Scripture reveals this dual function of light in at least three ways.  The first is the way light functions in the creation story.  On the first day of creation, the earth was covered with darkness and God created light that he called day and the darkness he called night (1:1-5).  On the fourth day, God created the sun to illuminate the day and the moon and stars to illuminate the night (1:14-17).  God was not the light itself.  Rather, the light was merely a manifestation of His presence (Ps 4:6).  Today, the light of God allows us to see his creation in all its plenitude, beauty and variety.

The second role for light is the spiritual function it has for us.  Jesus reveals this role in his claim that he is “…the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (Jn 8-12).  With this claim, Jesus declares himself to be light in a spiritual sense.  Jesus is the light that gives life to the soul, for all things were created in and through him, including life itself.  His light “shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (Jn 1:1-5).

This is why Jesus tells his disciples, “The light is with you for a little longer.  Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you.  If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going.  While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light” (Mt 11:35–36).  To be a child of light through faith in Jesus, therefore, is the third role of light. 

The children of light believe in Jesus and follow his way.  Their faith enables them to become light for the world and salt for the earth.  As children of the light, the followers of Jesus do not to hide their light under a bushel basket.  Rather, they let others see the good deeds they carry out with his light in imitation of his good deeds.  In fact, we are made for good deeds born of the light of Christ (Mt 5:13-16; Ep 2:10). 

The challenge for us today is how to access the light of Christ.  How can we see with the eyes of faith?  We need the light of Christ here in the physical world as much as we need his light in the spiritual realm.  The blind men who were healed by Jesus show us the answer.  They simply ask for his light.  Their faith motivates their search for healing, and their search born of faith leads them to Jesus, who is eager to comply. 

Jesus wants to give that same light to everyone.  This is the very reason he came into the world (Jn 1:9).  Jesus is light itself (1 Jn 1-7).  He is the new dawn that brings “light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Lk 1:78-79).  He gives us light to heal our spiritual darkness, and that healing brings us peace.  All we have to do is ask for his light.  Why else would he say to us, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you” (Mt 7:7-8).  There is simply no better way to put it.