Joseph is a Star of Christmas


Andrew says: 

I think of Joseph when he left to go to Bethlehem, of Mary still pregnant perched on that donkey. Many men would have had her walk but not Joseph. There was always: a love, a kindness and a gentleness about him. Some in the village were glad to see them go; they saw the shame in an unmarried mother. But Joseph even when he thought to divorce Mary it was to protect her from hostility. And then he had the dream! In the dream an angel of the Lord told him the truth and then he knew that he need not fear marrying Mary and truth be known his love for her had been in his heart all along. As they set out from Nazareth together they shone: their love, their purpose and their obedience; married in God’s will.


The journey: heat by day, cold by night still shunned by many. You need love to see past the tradition and meet the human need. All their troubles met with a good heart and humour they knew they were being watched over. Lifting Mary down from the donkey every time they stopped then helping her back on Joseph knew this was not his son; for most men this might be too much but he had his love for her and for God and the hope: “you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”


Arriving at Bethlehem the town of Joseph’s forefather the great King David. We all know the phrase “there was no room at the inn”. They did not panic; they accepted their lot. They knew as the Angel had said to Mary: “The Lord is with you”. Out of this inauspicious start the whole world would see the light coming out of Stable. The modern tradition of Fathers being at the birth, Joseph was there right at the beginning. Did he also attend when James, Jude and the girls came along? History does not record, But he was there in the stable: the Holy Family surrounded by animals, visited by shepherds and Joseph in locus parentis.

 

Joseph is truly a Star of Christmas. 

 

Can you find our Joseph? He's gone to check out some local childcare and get some practice in. Let us know if you spot him.
⭐ 🌟 ⭐ 🌟 ⭐ 🌟
 
Who is your Star of Christmas 2020? Send your nominations to posada@stmarysbillingshurst.org and we'll try to include them in our countdown. 

 

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