Matthew 1:18–25 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 1:18–25 on biblegateway.com
Verse 18Now 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. Verse 19Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. Verse 20But just when he had resolved to do this, 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. Verse 21She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." Verse 22All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: Verse 23"Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." Verse 24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, Verse 25but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
Devotion
This is a story of naming and reframing. Today, let’s talk about the reframing. Tomorrow we’ll explore the naming.
There is one way to frame this story. It is the way Joseph framed it. He knew that the child in Mary’s womb was not his. It is a story of disgrace. Joseph was a good guy, he didn’t want Mary to suffer public shame, so he planned to dismiss her quietly. He, in his context, was trying to do the right thing.
Then Gabriel shows up and reframes it for Joseph. What appears to be shameful on the surface is actually a holy disruption of God bringing the salvation of the world.
Think about that. What stories need reframing in your life today? How often does God work in the least likely ways to bring us salvation from our distorted frames?
Prayer
Oh God, give us eyes to see things the way you do. May we see your salvation, even in the darkest places. Amen.
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