NIGHT PRAYER: Sunday 12/21

On Sundays, Night Prayer takes its lead from some element from the day's liturgy. This evening's prayer finds its origin in these verses from today's gospel:

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.       But after he had considered 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 home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”       All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel”(which means “God with us”).       When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

Did you know Saint Joseph was a dreamer? Joseph doesn't utter a word in the gospels - we learn about him through his four dreams concerning the birth of Jesus. In the first he learns about the divine nature of Mary’s pregnancy and is told ‘not to be afraid’ but to take her as his wife. In the second, he's warned to leave Bethlehem and flee to Egypt. While in Egypt, he has a third dream revealing that it is now safe for him and his family to return to Israel. In the fourth dream, he's warned again of danger and takes the Holy Family to Galilee instead of back to Judea.   So, tonight we pray in the spirit of this dreamer who loved Jesus with a father's heart...

 

Like Joseph, Lord, we all face times,
    when you allow things to happen
        or allow things to fail to happen,
that critically touch and shape us,
    turning our lives around, often in ways 

            we never dreamed would happen, 

    in ways we hoped would never happen…

And in all of this, Lord, your word to us
    is the angel’s word in Joseph's dream:  

        Be not afraid...    

    because in everything, in all things,
        God is with you...

Was Joseph ready for this, Lord?

Was he any more or any less ready 

    - than we are?

Are we ready to renew our faith, our trust

    in all the ways your presence
        weaves itself into our lives:
    touching and shaping and

        turning our lives around
    in ways we may have never imagined 

        - or wanted.

And most of all, Lord, are we ready
    to trust that you're with us
        in everything

            and in all things...

Tonight, Lord, we remember 

    Joseph's doubts, his anticipation, his confusion, 

        his regrets, his fears,

            his concern for Mary,
        and his wonder and his awe...

We remember him placing himself in your hands,
    putting aside his fears and worries...

We remember Joseph's dreams

    and tonight, each of us prays with him:

I come this night, Lord,
    with a heart sometimes ready, and sometimes not,
        to love you, trust you and follow you...

My problems, worries and burdens
    often loom larger than life
and back me into lonely corners 
    where I wonder where you've brought me,
        where you'll lead me
            - and even if you're still with me...

My heart needs a dream, an angel, a message
    reminding me often, Be not afraid...  

All day long and in my sleep,
    remind me, Lord, as you did Joseph,
that with you I can face all things,
    accept all things, do all things,
        and endure all things...

Especially when my life, my heart
    are spun around, turned upside down;
when my sense of direction fails me
    and when I doubt the path I walk...

Remind me then to not to be afraid
    and to trust that with you, Lord, by my side
I can be always and more than ready
    for all that comes my way...

I pray tonight, Lord,

    with a heart sometimes ready and sometimes not,

but ready or not, Lord

    - here I come!    

Ready or not, Lord - here I am -
    and here I stand,
in need of your love 

    and mercy and strength...

Be with me, Lord,
    and be with me, St. Joseph,
        and help me not to be afraid...

Protect us, Lord, while we're awake

    and watch over us while we sleep

that awake, we might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace... 

Amen.  

 

Joseph, Did You Know by Christian Paul

 

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Joseph, did you know 

that the maid You chose 

already bore a child? 

Joseph, did you know 

that because this child 

by friends, you’d be reviled? 

 

Did you know 

that this boy you’d raise 

would be the sinners' praise? 

This first-born son of Mary 

your sins one day would carry! 

 

Joseph, did you know 

that this boy you’d teach 

to handle wood and hammer

Had himself designed 

all the trees of earth, 

made all things in his manner? 

 

Did you know that 

those serving hands 

would be nailed to a tree? 

The carpenter you’d train 

through death 

would set you free! 

 

He’d set the captives free 

He’d heal the brokenhearted 

He’d teach us how to love 

And heal us by his wounds! 

 

Joseph, did you know 

that this son you’d raise 

would change this world’s story? 

Joseph, did you know 

that this son you’d raise 

will raise you in his glory? 

 

Did you know 

that this carpenter 

would go and build your mansion! 

And one day, very soon, 

he’ll return as 

King of Kings! 

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