A Sunday of Love
On this Sunday, however, I am
reminded that love is so much more as demonstrated in today's New Testament
lesson: "Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way.
When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived
together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
“Her husband Joseph, being a
righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to
dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel
of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do
not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from
the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for
he will save his people from their sins."
“All this took place to fulfill
what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "Look, the virgin
shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which
means, "God is with us."
“When Joseph awoke from sleep, he
did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no
marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him
Jesus."
Even before Joseph is visited by an
angel, he carries love in his heart. His betrothed is pregnant and he
knows he is NOT the father. But he CHOSES (out of love), not to disgrace
her. He COULD have. Think of how hurt he must have been to find out that
she was pregnant and he was NOT the father. Yet it is out of love and
compassion that he decides to dismiss her quietly; BEFORE he is visited by the
angel. To love someone with all our heart and soul is to be compassionate
when we want to be otherwise. How great is the depth of that kind of
love?
As we conclude the season of
Advent, let us focus on love. If only for this Sunday, let us act in
love. Let us SHOW love. Not just to those who we "should"
love, but to those who need our love. Act with compassion and the love
that Joseph showed to Mary and to his son, Jesus.
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