he Gospel reading for this last Sunday in Advent tells the other version of the Christmas story. “Now the birth of Jesus took place in this way...” (verse 18). Unlike Luke, Matthew makes no mention of a census or shepherds or multitudes of angels. Instead, he tells of a scandalous pregnancy, a quietly planned divorce, and a dream-induced change of plans. This is Christmas from Joseph’s point of view.
We do not know much about Joseph. He was a descendent of David (Åἱὸ ”±Å¯´ – son of David) and a good (´¯º±¹¿Â – righteous) man. He also seems to have been thoughtful. He considered his situation carefully (ἐ½¸Å¼·¸½Ä¿Â- to consider; to think) and wanted to avoid putting Mary to shame (´µ¹³¼±Ä¯Ã±¹- expose; make an example of; disgrace). He was the kind of man you hope your son’s will become and your daughter’s will marry. But Matthew makes it abundantly clear that Joseph lacked one thing: Control. He may have been the titular head of his emerging household, but he was clearly not in charge. God was, as God always is. God was working out a much bigger story than Joseph could have imagined. Eugene Peterson suggests this is how it is for the people of God: “When we submit our lives to what we read in scripture, we find that we are not being led to see God in our stories but our stories in God’s. God is the larger context and plot in which our stories find themselves.”