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Outrageous Expectations Matthew 1:18 – 25; Isaiah 7:10 – 16 Vetting is a fairly new term for me. I finally looked up the word in the dictionary this week. Although its first meaning has to do with veterinary science, the secondary meaning is to ‘subject to a thorough examination and evaluation.’ We are, of course, hearing accusations that the ‘vetting process’ for Bernard Kerik was not handled well – or that time was not given for a thorough ‘vetting process,’ in order for us to know that this man was (or was not) squeaky clean and therefore able to be an important Presidential advisor. One news commentator said that Mr. Kerik’s past caught up with him and he lost out on the ‘job of a lifetime.’ Most of us do not aspire to be the Director of Homeland Security, but what about a ‘vetting process’? What about our past – the ‘job’ of our lifetime?! Is our history – our whole past (and present) secure in the hands and eyes of God…which may, indeed, be reason enough for folks to be non-believers. For if there is no God, we can pretend that our lives are hidden – absolutely – within our own memory banks. Believers know that God is vetting us all the time – and, yet, through that scrutiny loves and affirms us – which all in all is fairly outrageous, mind-boggling and ultimately throws us to our knees in thanksgiving. Today is the Advent day of Joseph. We truly know so little about this character – and wonder about his purpose in the Gospel story. As I have mentioned each of the last three weeks, we would much rather get to the manger scene and Christmas, rather than spend time in the outskirts of the season…waiting and preparing. But there must be reason and important discovery with this scripture that will put us in a better position for Christmas Eve. Mary and Joseph were betrothed, which we loosely associate with our understanding of engagement. However there were legal ramifications. One didn’t just ‘give the ring back’ to break up a betrothal. A divorce was necessary, and, of course, it would always be on the initiation of the man – who had the legal rights in that day. When sweet, young ‘bride-to-be’ Mary was found to be pregnant, Joseph knew he was in a major predicament. His legal right was to expose Mary – after which she might have been stoned (to death) – a legal act but not prevalent in those times. More often, women in such an unfortunate circumstance would merely be completely socially ostracized. However, Joseph obviously loved or cared deeply for Mary, for he was not willing to expose her – but just put her away quietly. So, in our vetting of Joseph, we know that he was thoughtful but unbelieving, because surely Mary had told him her preposterous tale about the pregnancy. The important part of the story comes next. Joseph had a dream of reassurance and then Joseph believed. Joseph – carrying the name of an ancestor who had been ridiculed because of his dreams…and yet saved his people because of them – is the subject of the real miracle of today's lesson in his hearing and believing. Peter Gomes (Sermons from Memorial Church, published by Memorial Church, 1999) at Harvard claims that miracles are NOT things that happen in the absence of evidence to explain them. Those are “merely mystery or yet unexplainable phenomenon, or unbelievable fantasy.” The Bible (he says) is not concerned with unbelievable fantasies. The miracle here is that a sensible, reasonable, pragmatic, and good man, a man named Joseph acts contrary to the evidence that surrounds him on every hand. He sees the evidence. He understands it. He knows its implications and he acts contrary to it. Gomes continues: “Faith is not life lived in the absence of evidence. Faith is life lived contrary to the evidence on every hand.” Joseph had the evidence he needed – to take the appropriate action. He had done the ‘vetting’ (the examination – the evaluation) required, and then didn’t heed what he had found. Fairly outrageous and precisely why we receive this story today. God set him up! A good, solid man – who obviously knew right from wrong. But God expected him to act contrary to what he knew for fact. This is the wonder and the miracle that is important for us to ponder, entertain, and accept so that we can receive Jesus Christ into our lives…next weekend or any time in our life! God had done a thorough examination of Joseph and evidently believed that here was a man who would be able – with a bit of dream prodding – to take an active role in the drama that would change life. God was right – the risk on Joseph panned out! Now, where do we fit in? Gender aside, could we play the role of Joseph? In God’s vetting (examination) of us would we be able to be chosen as believers? Would we be able to act contrary to the evidence that surrounds us and listen to what God would have us be doing to play a part in the drama of life? And what would those dramas be?
Only you and God know what it might be…. If we believe that God does know us – and still loves us – then we can trust that some outrageous expectations will be coming our way – from God – and we have a mighty important part to play in the drama of life. Perhaps we will get our role this week?! Perhaps the gift of Christmas for us will be the outrageous expectation God has for us. Knowing that God believes in us – even after the most thorough vetting process imaginable – must give us cause for great joy! Angels’ singing joy…joy that will never go away because God so loves every one of us that God gives us life! And God has shown that life through Jesus whom we call the Christ. • SW |
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