Today’s Gospel:  Matthew 1:18-23

REFLECTION
It should never be forgotten that today’s Gospel has an Eastern setting. Even today, wedding arrangements are vastly different from those found in Western nations. To understand this situation is to appreciate the events connected with the marriage of Mary to Joseph.

A Jewish wedding was generally arranged in three stages. First came the engagement. This was an agreed arrangement when the girl, often very young, was promised to a man chosen by her parents. This seems strange to Western people, for often the bride and bridegroom had never met. Parents, and parents alone, were responsible for the continuance of the family name, and it was their task to find a husband for their daughter. Second, there was the betrothal. It was the equivalent of an engagement party. What had been arranged earlier, was then ratified. At this point in the proceedings, the entire affair could be cancelled if either bride or bridegroom objected. However, once the matter had been agreed, there was no way of escape. The engagement lasted for one year. During that time, the couple was considered to be man and wife, although the marriage was never consummated. If the man wished to end the contract, he could do so by divorce proceedings, but the woman could do nothing. Finally, after one year of preparation, the marriage service was held, and festivities continued for several days. It is against this background we must consider the relationship existing between Joseph and Mary.

At some earlier date, Mary had been promised to Joseph. Then, she had been officially engaged or “espoused” to him, and it was during the following 12 months that she became pregnant. Ordinarily, this would have been a devastating catastrophe, and if Joseph denied having had intercourse with his promised wife, she would have been tried and sentenced to death by stoning. This was in accordance with Jewish law.

Joseph was terribly shocked when he discovered Mary’s condition. This had happened during the twelve months when they should have been eagerly preparing for the consummation of their own marriage. Lesser men might have accused her before the elders of the city, but “Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away [privately].” He loved the girl too much to permit her being stoned, and yet could hardly condone her crime! The only solution seemed to be in secrecy, during which they could be quietly divorced, and somewhere, somehow, both could begin living separate lives. Joseph was contemplating these things when the angel appeared to remove his doubt.

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (v. 21). During the lifetime of Ezekiel, God had said, “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none” (Ezek. 22:30). All that had changed; God had provided a Savior for Israel. During the Old Testament years, God had been FOR His people; now in the Person of His Son, God would be WITH them. “... and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (v. 23b).

“Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child” (v. 23a). This prediction came from the writings of Isaiah 7:14; “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel.” It should be noted again that one of the key statements found in this Gospel is “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet.” Matthew hoped the Jews would see, as he saw, that Jesus was the fulfillment of all that had been promised.

“Emmanuel... God with us.” God was no longer the hard-to-understand, hard-to-reach Deity in the sky. God had descended to earth in the form of a baby. Did Joseph realize the implications of what was taking place? We may never know, but surely, when in after years Matthew wrote these words, his soul was thrilled. Maybe his face became wet with tears, as he remembered he had been permitted to walk and talk with God. He never forgot that privilege, for even when he was completing his Gospel, he quoted the promise of his Master: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations... and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matt. 28:19–20).

Today’s Reading:  Rom 8:28-30

PRAYER
Lord, like Matthew, we are thrilled with the knowledge that you became man, so that man might fulfill the destiny that God has laid out for him.  With humility and gratitude, we worship and adore you.  In Jesus’ Name we pray.  Amen.