Tuesday 18 December 2018

Psalm: Psalm 61

 Background

They did marriage differently then! A couple were usually engaged as children, either by their parents or a professional matchmaker, even if they hadn’t met each other. When they were older the couple might break off the engagement but were more likely agree to it and so there was the betrothal. This lasted for one year and they could only separate if they divorced; they were regarded as husband and wife. At the end of the year, there was the proper marriage and the bridegroom took his bride to his home and the marriage was consummated.

If you saw The Nativity animation on the BBC back in 2010, you might remember how vividly it portrays Joseph’s hurt at discovering Mary is pregnant while they are only betrothed. Joseph was faced with a difficult dilemma and resolved to divorce Mary quietly. This whole account of Jesus’ birth in today’s reading is told from Joseph’s perspective, but it is also very Jewish in feel. God speaks to Joseph in a dream (and yes if you remember ‘the Technicolour Dream Coat’ narrative you have heard that phrase before!) Indeed, in the succeeding verses, God directs Joseph and the magi through dreams. Just as elsewhere in Matthew’s gospel, there are also quotes from the Jewish scriptures, which are fulfilled in Jesus. It becomes clear to Joseph that God is at work in the birth of (his son) Jesus.

We know very little of Joseph, but this passage does give us a few small insights. First of all he is described as a just man, meaning he was righteous and law-abiding. He was also a man who had some sympathy or feeling for his wife; he could have made an accusation of adultery and this would have been followed by a public trial. Instead he opts for a private divorce before two witnesses. Following the angel’s appearance to him, Joseph takes the riskier step of going ahead with the relationship. Later, when he follows the angel’s instruction and names Jesus, he was formally acknowledging Jesus as his son. The passage acknowledges Joseph as David’s son.

To Ponder:

• Think of a situation where you need to balance righteousness and compassion. Can you discern a Christian response?
• Few of us these days would consider arranging a marriage for our children – should we, therefore, be careful of talking about ‘biblical marriage’?