Last year on this Sunday at spoke at length of the Annunciation to Mary...of how she was obedient to the will of God...of how she gave herself as an offering and oblation to God...of how she agreed to bear God into this world. And there is a tremendous amount to say about that. The Blessed Virgin Mary holds a very high, special and honoured place in our tradition. There is always something to say about the life of the Virgin Mary that can change our lives for the better.

But today I want to focus on an other annunciation.  I think we would do well to focus on how this God-bearing impacted the life of Joseph, and what his example can mean to us.  

For very little is known about Saint Joseph...we only see him once or twice in the record of Scripture...but yet, he gives us profound insight into a faithful life.

And especially for men...for father and husbands, about what it means to be a man...about what it means to be a family man obedient to the will and direction of God.

First, we need to start off looking at the beginning of today's Gospel.  

"Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly." (Mt I: xviii-xix NRSV)

Now, at first glance, this passage does not seem to put Joseph in such a good light.  "How dare he do that do Mary!" you might be thinking.  Well, before we are so quick to dismiss Joseph, let's think about the rule and culture of the day.

By law, Joseph was well within his rights, and it was even dictated, that Mary should be stoned to death because of her alleged indiscretions.  To become pregnant before marriage was forbidden in those days, and to add insult to injury, Joseph could claim that the child was not his and have her put to death.

These are lovely Christmas thoughts I know...but look what Saint Joseph does...instead of holding up the letter of the law, he made plans to quietly dismiss her.  Or he intended to shield her from public disgrace and death.

And this shows a tremendous amount of mercy and com-passion.  If that were to happen to the average man...that his girlfriend or betrothed should become pregnant  by another man...he would probably wish the death penalty could be used...and I doubt very seriously that he would end the relationship quietly...taking into consideration her feelings and public image.  

So, Joseph in this regard goes on to show us the soul of a compassionate man, a man who has the interest and well being of others, even those who might have wronged him, first and foremost.  He sacrifices his rights and privileges for the benefit of others.

So next Joseph dreams, and while he dreams;

"an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." (Mt I: xx-xxi)

Many of us often rush right over this passage.  But it holds within it some very profound meaning.  How many of you trust your dreams?  How many of you listen to what your dreams tell you and act upon them?  

It is not as if God the Father almighty appears to him...rather he dreams, and in that dream he sees the angel Gabriel.  And in that dream Gabriel tells him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife.  And so Joseph takes Mary as his wife.

That act shows a trust in God that the average person probably does not posses.  Most of us would be filled with doubt...or more truly...most of us would rather have our on way than the way of God.

Throughout the rest of the Gospel account we hear very little of Joseph, excepting bits where he takes his family to Egypt for a decade long sojourn, or where he is with Mary searching for the young Jesus who stays behind at the Temple debating some of the great Jewish thinkers of the day.

But even in those small accounts...and even from the witness of Jesus and Mary wherein Joseph is not specifically mentioned...we can know with some certainty that Joseph sacrificed of himself to ensure the health and well-being of those he loved.

Joseph...the man who denied himself for the sake of his wife...for the sake of the will of God.

He indeed has much to teach us.  For us husbands and fathers...he shows us how we should behave and pattern our lives.  He shows us that we should put the will of God first and foremost.  Joseph shows us what happens when we ‘swallow our pride' and in humility protect and care for those in our charge.  

He shows us the example of sacrifice and a no-holds-barred attitude towards protecting the family by taking them to a strange land and providing for them until it is safe to return home.  

Joseph gave all so that his family could in turn give the world everything.  And in this day and age, that is a lesson that is sorely in need of remembering.

But his example is not only for husbands and fathers...his example is for us all.  In an age where the world calls us to selfishness and pride...in an age that expects the family to break apart...he shows to what it means to hold the family together, even in the face of public disgrace and danger...what it means to be compassionate and giving...what it means to be humble...what it means to offer your life to God's will and work in the world.

And as we sit here awaiting Christmas...these are good things to ponder.  As most of us will most certainly receive gifts this week...we must ask ourselves, what gifts do we have to give?

Can we be like Joseph, swallowing pride, trusting in God and giving ourselves for the advancement of Our Saviour?  For if we can, there is no better gift that can be given.