colin TODAY is the feast of Saint Joseph!
2,000 years ago, when Christ was about to be born, only a few individuals had any notion at all of what was about to happen: Mary and her betrothed. And I wonder if Mary might have asked, “Joseph… are you ready for this?”
There was at least one moment when Joseph was not ready for this, when he was ready only to quietly break off his betrothal to Mary - until - an angel spoke to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, be not afraid…”
Be not afraid – of what?
Of taking Mary into his home as his wife?
Of caring for a child he knew he had not fathered?
Yes... but more than that, the angel was telling Joseph,
Be not afraid of how the mystery of God is weaving itself into your life, into your relationship with Mary,
and into your whole future. Be not afraid, Joseph, of how the mystery of God will touch your life, shape your life, turn your life around and stand it on its head!
Like Joseph, all of us face times when God has allowed things to happen or has allowed things to fail to happen, that intimately touch, shape and turn our lives around in ways we never dreamed would happen, in ways we wish had never happened, in ways we prayed would never happen...
And in all of this the word to us is precisely the angel’s word to Joseph in his dream: Be not afraid because in everything, and in all things - God is with you...”
"Joseph, are you ready for this?"
To be ready is to renew our faith, our trust, in all the ways the mystery of God’s presence is weaving itself into our lives: touching and shaping and turning our lives around in ways we may never have imagined.
And most of all, to be ready is to trust that God is with us
in everything and in all things...
Take a moment this evening to imagine Joseph's doubts, his anticipation, his anger… his regrets, his fears, his wonder, his confusion, his awe… Imagine Joseph handing his troubles over to God and trusting, putting his fears aside… And, imagine yourself in Joseph's dream...
Prayer
I come to you tonight, Lord,
with a heart sometimes ready, sometimes not ready,
to trust you, follow you, love you...
My problems, my worries, my burdens
loom larger than life and back me into corners
where I feel alone and wonder where you've brought me,
where you'll lead me - even if you're still with me...
My heart needs a dream, an angel, a message
reminding me not to be afraid...
There was at least one moment when Joseph was not ready for this, when he was ready only to quietly break off his betrothal to Mary - until - an angel spoke to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, be not afraid…”
Be not afraid – of what?
Of taking Mary into his home as his wife?
Of caring for a child he knew he had not fathered?
Yes... but more than that, the angel was telling Joseph,
Be not afraid of how the mystery of God is weaving itself into your life, into your relationship with Mary,
and into your whole future. Be not afraid, Joseph, of how the mystery of God will touch your life, shape your life, turn your life around and stand it on its head!
Like Joseph, all of us face times when God has allowed things to happen or has allowed things to fail to happen, that intimately touch, shape and turn our lives around in ways we never dreamed would happen, in ways we wish had never happened, in ways we prayed would never happen...
And in all of this the word to us is precisely the angel’s word to Joseph in his dream: Be not afraid because in everything, and in all things - God is with you...”
"Joseph, are you ready for this?"
To be ready is to renew our faith, our trust, in all the ways the mystery of God’s presence is weaving itself into our lives: touching and shaping and turning our lives around in ways we may never have imagined.
And most of all, to be ready is to trust that God is with us
in everything and in all things...
Take a moment this evening to imagine Joseph's doubts, his anticipation, his anger… his regrets, his fears, his wonder, his confusion, his awe… Imagine Joseph handing his troubles over to God and trusting, putting his fears aside… And, imagine yourself in Joseph's dream...
Prayer
I come to you tonight, Lord,
with a heart sometimes ready, sometimes not ready,
to trust you, follow you, love you...
My problems, my worries, my burdens
loom larger than life and back me into corners
where I feel alone and wonder where you've brought me,
where you'll lead me - even if you're still with me...
My heart needs a dream, an angel, a message
reminding me not to be afraid...
Especially at night, Lord, and even in my sleep,
remind me as you did Joseph
that with you I can face all things,
accept all things, do all things,
endure all things...
Especially when my life and my heart
are spun around and upside down;
when my sense of direction fails me;
when I fear the path I walk:
remind me then, Lord, not to be afraid,
remind me as you did Joseph
that with you I can face all things,
accept all things, do all things,
endure all things...
Especially when my life and my heart
are spun around and upside down;
when my sense of direction fails me;
when I fear the path I walk:
remind me then, Lord, not to be afraid,
to trust that with you by my side
I can be ready for whatever comes my way...
I can be ready for whatever comes my way...
I come this night, Lord,
with a heart sometimes ready
and sometimes not ready...
But ready or not, Lord - here I come!
And here I am and here I stand
in need of your love and your strength...
Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake
and watch over me as I sleep
that awake, I might keep watch with you
and asleep rest in your peace...
Amen.
Tonight's song is about Joseph and his circumstances
but all of us might relate to and pray over the line,
Father tell me where I fit into this plan of yours
Jsoeph's Song by Michael Card
If a video doesn't appear below, click here!
How could it be, this baby in my arms
Sleeping now, so peacefully
The Son of God, the angel said
How could it be
Lord I know He's not my own
Not of my flesh, not of my bone
Still Father let this baby be
Son of my love
Father tell me where I fit into this plan of yours
How can a man be father to the Son of God
Lord for all my life I've been a simple carpenter
How can I raise a king, How can I raise a king
He looks so small, His face and hands so fair
And when He cries the sun just seems to disappear
But when He laughs it shines again
How could it be?
Father tell me where I fit into this plan of yours
How can a man be father to the Son of God
Lord for all my life I've been a simple carpenter
How can I raise a king, How can I raise a king
How could it be, this baby in my arms
Sleeping now, so peacefully
The Son of God, the angel said
How could it be
What a beautiful and appropriate song. I loved it.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ralph