The Attitude Of Joseph

 

It is only God that can fill our emptiness. 

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Second Part of Advent, Monday December 18th, 2023
Texts: Jeremiah 23:5-8; Psalm 72:1-2,12-13,18-19; Matthew 1:18-24 

What amazes me in today’s gospel reading is the attitude of Joseph, the husband of Virgin Mary. It is not only amazing but also challenging. He might have been disappointed, he was not pained or begrudge Mary, his wife. He shows us what it means to truly love. No matter what the person does, our thought will not be to hurt, if we truly love him/her. St. Paul says, “Love does no wrong to a neighbour” (Rom. 13:10). He also says, “It is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury” (1Cor. 13:5). 

The attitude of Joseph is against what is common in our world. We have heard stories of partners killing the others for disappointing. There are also stories of partners pouring acid on the others who left them. Is that really because of love? They acted out of pain. They were pained because the other person was a makeup for their lack. As the other person left them they felt their lack and so pained. What they had before was not love but addiction to a pacifying one. We feel pain when what we are addicted to is withdrawn.  

We now give in to addiction instead of love

Addiction, which we call love now, reveals that we are empty. We now give in to addiction instead of love. We are not whole. Joseph is whole, so he was not addicted to Virgin Mary but love her. Being whole is being righteous. Hence, it is said of Joseph thus: “And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to send her away.” Joseph is said to be righteous. We cannot be whole unless we are righteous; it is the presence of God in us that makes us whole. It is only God that can fill our emptiness.  

The only person that can save us and make life meaningful for us is a person who is righteous. Prophet Jeremiah tells us, today, that our Messiah whom we await is a righteous one. He says, "Behold, the days are coming, says the  Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.” He adds, “And this is the name by which he will be called: 'The  Lord is our righteousness.” As we await the righteous Lord, we are to be righteous.  

Prayer 

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we, who are weighed down from of old by slavery beneath the yoke of sin, may be set free by the newness of the long-awaited Nativity of your Only Begotten Son. Amen (Collect) 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke