Love is a Full-Time Job

I have deliberately waited to say much about Joseph until the Eve of Jesus’ birth. Remember that this is a guy who was feeling very conflicted. His fiance was pregnant and he had this one very key fact: he hadn’t had sexual relations with her.

Confused about what a decent human response would be in a situation like this, Joseph was given the gift of insight. An angel appeared to him in a dream and said, “She will bear a son, conceived of the Holy Spirit, and you, Joseph, will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

Ahhhh, realized Joseph. God was up to something; this was part of a story bigger than himself, his reputation or even Mary’s sexual history.

When Joseph woke up, he knew what he was supposed to do. He was given the command: believe.

He married her and the rest, as they say, is history.

Here’s a good word for all of us: our work is not fancy, but it is hard to remember - believe. And as we believe we wrestle with the application of said belief. It limits us to loving, respecting and cherishing our fellow man. It frees us from the limitations of fear, anger, resentment, greed, gluttony and the like. Because loving is a full-time gig.

May you Christmas Eve be filled with light.