Joseph, Jesus' adopted/earthly father, actually gets very little attention in scripture. The reading from Sunday, Matthew 1:18-25, is really the most we know about him. Later in the gospels, when we read about the life and ministry of the adult Jesus, Joseph is not mentioned. Yet Joseph's faithfulness and strength in the midst of this (though holy) disruption and chaotic period in his life ought to be heard. For me, this spoke in terms of our own desires for security, and a life on track, within bounds, versus God's ultimate security and God securing our hearts.
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There is a man who attends the community meal almost every week. I stand at the doorway to greet and welcome everyone who comes in. Each time I have seen him, as he walks by me, he says, just loud enough for me to hear, “security, security.”
It used to puzzle me, because the community meals have been pretty calm, but then I thought – maybe in general it isn't such a weird comment. We look for security in a lot of ways in our lives. We lock our doors. We put away a little money or keep certain things in our purses or wallets “just in case.” Some of you collect social security. Security has made big news lately with airport security measures and debates over security versus privacy or it all just going too far. We keep things locked in home safes, have microchips implanted into our pets in case they get lost, and have devised all number of home security systems. And these are smart things to do. Yet some say that the particular culture of the United States has blessed us with so much but also wrapped us in a heightened sense of fear and needing security. The movie Bowling for Columbine, among others, analyzes this – pointing out that just across the river in Canada people have a different attitude about their security. In the film they go around a city neighborhood which looks a lot like this one and just try the doorknobs of the homes – and find – most of those Canadian doors are unlocked.
Following rules gives us a sense of security. Because we are taught from when we are children that if you follow the rules, follow the plan, things will stay on track. Joseph followed the rules. Joseph is referred to as “righteous,” which means he followed God's laws as given to the Jewish people. God's laws were given to keep people safe, in a variety of ways. Don't eat pork – because ancient food preparation could make you sick. God lovingly gives us rules about premarital sex and children not only to promote emotional and loving security in families, but also for the very real and practical matter of ensuring the security of the heir. Especially for male children, inheritance and legacy was a big deal and virginity of women was so prized because it would secure the purity of the children. Joseph followed the rules. His life plan was set and secured. Until Mary was found to be with child. Security, security.
When the angel comes to Joseph, he was already was afraid. Because his sense of security, his path, had been blown up. Even with a plan of action, to dismiss Mary quietly, what was he supposed to do after having been betrothed to her? Everyone in the neighborhood would surely talk and remember this scandalous story . . . And it is in Luke's account of the nativity, which we will hear on Friday, that we learn about the travel to Bethlehem, the stable – no lock on the door, no security guard in that delivery ward. Then as soon as this baby is born they are going to have to be on the run from Herod's persecution. Security, security!
Today's gospel reading is the most we hear about Joseph. I wonder if Joseph had any kind of anxiety or high blood pressure as all of this unfolded. Joseph learned, like we often do, that perhaps security is only surface deep. And maybe when we scratch the surface, security isn't all that simple.
So one Thursday night I had the opportunity to speak a little further to this man who had puzzled me with his refrain every week of “security, security.” I said something like, “what do you mean, security? We're having a calm night. Is there something you're worried about?” He looked up at me, and responded, “well, you know, we need prayer. There's a lot of need out there for all kind of security. But God's like, far off. Why is God so distant? We need to call God in for security, but I don't know. I don't think he's here.” I replied with one of the only things I know for sure sometimes – God is here. We can call for security from God, but God is always here, always listens. God is right here. He looked at me shocked – you sure? Here? Right here. God is with you. Wherever you are.
That was about two or three weeks ago, and now when he enters the meal, he laughs a little when he sees me and says, “right here?” We've had a couple short conversations where he questions me further on it, but the answer doesn't change. Yes, things are bad in the world, yes, sin and evil tear things apart. Yes, like Joseph some people have the best laid plans, only to have them tragically disappear. But yes, God is here. God is with you. That is the type of security I need.
For me, this is what is comforting about Joseph. Joseph's life was messy. Before the angel comes in a dream, Joseph's life would've qualified him for an episode of Jerry Springer or a tabloid rag – engaged to be married to his virgin bride, who is now pregnant, like Montel would say, you are NOT the father, he's about to leave her. Messy. The people in our bible don't have picture-perfect, Christmas card, white picket fence kind of lives. They are messy people with messy lives. But right there, in the middle of it all, of all the confusion, God is here. God was there for Joseph, and when things got messy, God kept finding ways to get through to him. Though Joseph's worldly sense of security was broken into by the disruption of this pregnancy, God secured Joseph's heart and ours with the promises of God's presence. Security. God is here.
Joseph's shattered security and the messy story of Jesus' birth are contrast with the strong sense of security and calm that God brings. That protection is reflected in Jesus' names. The angel tells Joseph that he will name the son Jesus, Yeshua, Joshua, which means “he will save.” With this promise, that God will save us through this little baby, God's son, what is there to be afraid of? We have the same promise today, and should remember it each time we pray “in Jesus' name” because by doing so we are reminding ourselves that Jesus will save us. Another name for Jesus, Emmanuel, means “God is with us,” and even as it was a promise to Joseph, it is still a promise to us today. God is with you.
This nativity story is comforting because it reflects the truth that we already see around us – that life is messy, but in the very thick of it, God is here. God is with every person who will share this Christmas time with family, in a secure home, or alone, or afraid, wherever you are, God is with you. God is with every person who goes out from the community meal, into the night, like one man who a few hours afterward was beat up and robbed, but came to talk to me and reflected, “eh, I know God's with me, I'm blessed with what I've got.” God is with us when you wake up in the morning to bad news or a sick child. God is with you when you get a phone call that takes your whole life off track. We can build walls to protect ourselves, save our money in a bank as some security for the future, but God reminds us that our ultimate security lies in this one baby, son of God, who came in the most messy, vulnerable way. Lock your doors, follow the rules, go through the security checkpoints, these are all God's good gifts for our protection. But the story of Joseph and Jesus' birth reminds us that our ultimate security lies in God our savior. When we remember our savior's names, we proclaim the truth of his coming – God is with us. Emmanuel. He will save us. The name of Jesus. Amen.
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