Today we celebrate the 4^th and final Sunday of Advent. In these 2 rapidly passing days, we put the last gloss on all our pre-Christmas doings. We get ourselves seriously ready for the big event. We do grand and extraordinary things. Though we haven’t preheated an oven since last December, we commit to some Scandinavian braided pastry thing. And on this last Sunday of preparation, we recall the back story leading to that singular, miraculous birth. We go to the scripture and read the exceptional account of Joseph.

     Now those of us who grew up with a grandmother who read us bible stories and those of us who attended Sunday school regularly have at least one favored biblical character. Some of us are drawn to David the giant slayer. Some of us respond to the affection between Ruth and Naomi. Paul’s conviction inspires some. Micah’s passion for social justice encourages many. The courage of Rehab in the face of her family and community moves others. And while I appreciate the stellar qualities of all these spiritual ancestors, Joseph the Nazarene has always, always been my guy.

     Like most men and women from the bible, we know few details about Joseph, his life and likes. We do not know his middle name. We do not know if he was a good musician or if he had a good sense of humor. We do not know if he was athletic or especially bright. Did he always want to work with his hands or did he just follow in his father’s business? Really, we know only the broadest strokes of his life. In his gospel account, Matthew tells us Joseph was a carpenter and a man betrothed to Mary. We know he was

a faithful Jew and that he was “righteous” in the sight of God. We understand that means that Joseph was a man of the Law, a man who lived under the whole of the Law. He was not a person to pick and choose commandments according to his present need. From our passage this morning, we learn that Joseph receives unsettling news about his future bride. He hears the news and then makes an interesting and uncharacteristic choice. A little later, being open to the ways of God, Joseph receives an angel. Joseph takes in the herald’s message and responds-dutifully. In faith, Joseph marries Mary. The man then adheres to the rule of the land, the rule of the Roman occupiers. He travels to Bethlehem with his bride. There Joseph again receives an angel. Once again he takes in the message. Once again he responds faithfully. The husband and new father takes his family far from harm’s way into an alien country. There he begins a new life. As a stranger in a strange land, he builds a business. He joins a new community, learns new customs, protects his family, and keeps his faith. Far from home, for the third time Joseph receives an angel. Again he listens and follows. He abandons his new life and business to take his family back home to Nazareth, the small town that “knew him when.”

     Ever the man of faith, Joseph raises the young Jesus as a true son of Moses, a follower of God’s covenant brought down the mountain. And at the proper time, according to the law, Joseph sees that his family makes the required pilgrimage to Jerusalem. When his “foster” son goes missing in that great city expansive city, Joseph moves heaven and earth to find him. Throughout the teenage years and into adulthood, Joseph provides for Jesus. Joseph raises Jesus and then lets him go. This then is the “Joseph tradition.” This is the core message God transmitted to us about Joseph, the man he ordained as his one true son’s earthly protector. As God so often does in divine communication, we are given first the outline and then the consequences. From these broad points, we are expected to fill in the particulars and the meaning.

      Given these facts, what can we say about Joseph? Well, Joseph is a Man among men, a man for all seasons, perhaps the quintessential man. Joseph is imbued with all the qualities, all the attributes we associate with manliness. Truth be told, Joseph is the man every woman wants to marry. He is the son every mother hopes to raise. Joseph is the man every soldier wants beside him, behind him, leading him. Joseph is the friend we all hope to be and this is because-Joseph is the proverbial stand up guy. He is axiomatically steadfast. Joseph always does the right thing, not the easy thing, not the expedient thing, not the biggest profit thing but the right thing. In his behavior and his decisions, Joseph the Nazarene, the carpenter, the betrothed of Mary always stays focused on the big picture. Joseph is interested in the long haul and the health of relationships over time. Joseph also intuitively understands that while keeping faith with God is not always easy, the results are always worth the sacrifice.

     Of all the men in all of Judea, in all of Jerusalem, in all the Roman Empire, in all the ages, Gods handpicks Joseph to safeguard Mary, the bearer of his divine child. God anoints Joseph as the human male to raise and protect, to teach and model manliness and genuine humanity to his only begotten Son. From all the others, God appoints Joseph. And why? Because Joseph is a righteous man, a man who knows his Lord and puts his trust in God. At the end of the day, at the break of dawn, Joseph stands with God. He draws his line in the sand and says the world can say what it will, and do as it wishes, but I, I and those of my household stand with God. Joseph has the most remarkable capacity to remain steadfast, to withstand pressure, pressure on multiple fronts.

    Consider our passage this morning. Joseph, a young man from a very very traditional and conservative community discovers that his contracted bride is pregnant and not by him. In that community, in that time, all the people would know the news. Every neighbor, every customer, every vendor and temple member knew about Mary’s disgrace. Every one knew Joseph’s betrayal and every member had an opinion. Each one knew the Law. Each one had essentially the same expectation of what Joseph should do next. Can you imagine Joseph’s mother’s perspective? A good Jewish mother raising a good Jewish son who finds himself tied to a girl of disrepute. Could she have said anything other than, leave that girl alone, denounce her, separate yourself from her and move on. Would not Joseph senior concur? What in the world did Joseph’s friends advise? Even if they were particularly fond of Mary, every lesson they had been taught told them to distance themselves from her sin and humiliation.

        In this context, Joseph’s actions are extraordinary.  Rather than publicly condemning the young woman who brought disgrace and unwanted notoriety to his doorstep, he opts to quietly release her from their marriage contract. When an angel brings him an unexpected, unwelcomed message, Joseph stays with God. Joseph endures the scandal and the disappointment of his family and community for the sake of his Lord. Is this not remarkable? People would not have believed Joseph’s interpretation of the angel’s directive. Everything they knew about God and his law indicated that a marriage with Mary was a sacrilege. Joseph withstood the pressure. Joseph stood with God and without benefit of foresight!

     Understand, Joseph did not know he was destined for sainthood. He did not know he would become immortalized in paintings and sculptures. He had no idea that schools, hospitals, places of worship or aspirin would bear his name. Joseph was savvy enough to know he was taking on a life of hardship, but he never could have predicted the dangers and sorrows that lay ahead when he accepted God’s “honor.” Joseph never asked for the kings bearing gifts to knock at his door. Joseph never intended to flee in exile ahead of sword wielding soldiers royally commissioned to murder his son. The carpenter hoped for a simple life. A home, a business, a wife who loved him, children to light up his life was his honest desire. In saying “yes” to God, Joseph made the faithful choice, but he also made a tremendous sacrifice. The course of his life changed forever.

     A man of faith, a person of faith needs to understand that saying yes to God puts one in opposition to the world more often than one might first imagine. Trusting in God rather than the world, praying to God rather than to contemporary idols, listening for God’s still voice rather than the snappy slogans and erudite talking heads puts one at odds with ones own beloved community. Joseph demonstrates both the costs and the incredible grace that result from remaining faithful to God and standing upright for the Lord.

     So, while Mary is often referred to as t he “Gospel Bearer,” we see that Joseph is truly the Gospel Protector.” Mary brought the Good News into the world, but Joseph insured that the Good News survived long enough to be heard. In a children’s liturgy, young ones looking to the altar are asked, “What do the candles mean?” They respond. “The light of the world.” “They represent Jesus Christ who is the light of the world.” At one time, the light was only a spark, a tiny vulnerable spark in need of protection. That spark required shelter and encouragement. In that time, Joseph the righteous was there. Joseph tended the flame, and the light grew stronger.

     Today, we are the Gospel protectors. Today, we, who say we stand with God, carry the responsibility of guarding and encouraging the light in the world. Christ

is counting on us. Christ needs each of us to carry his light, to feed his flame, to shine his light, his message of hope and mercy, salvation and justice into every dark and despairing corner of this world. As Advent season ends, may we put down all the other preparations and instead ready ourselves. May we reorient ourselves to be light bearers, light protectors. As Christmas approaches, may we keep the light of the world, that good and holy news safe, secure and healthy. May we do all in our power to insure its growth and effect. May we stand with Joseph as true protectors of the faith -men and women for all seasons, steadfast in the service of our Lord.