by Gene Cline <revgenecline@nwonline.net>

Setting: We meet Joseph almost thirteen years after the birth of Jesus. After some anxious hours, he and Mary have finally found their son in Jerusalem, in the Temple, confounding the elders. Joseph has listened as Jesus talked. With the temple talk finished he has sent Mary and Jesus outside to get a few things from the market place. While they go ahead Joseph returns to the temple. In the Temple he prays, or he talks to God before joining them.

I said I wanted to pray, Lord. So I dismissed Mary and Jesus to get some things in the market place before we headed back to rejoin the others from Nazareth. But in sitting here, I guess it is not so much the need to pray, but just the need to talk with you about Jesus… Yes you are right Lord. And to also talk about me.

Those were some pretty anxious days we went through when we discovered that Jesus wasn’t with Mary and the women and children. Nor was he with me and the men. It was a frightening time to no longer have our son with us. Why, Mary and I talked about how lonely we felt and how awkward and empty our lives were without young Jesus right by our side. It’s a feeling we got to know all too well, and one I never care to experience again.

Then, Lord, our emotions must be oh so familiar to you. After all, Jesus is your Son.

Oh, my Lord, how much you must love us, for you have sent your son to lead us back to your life of righteousness.

It’s been almost thirteen years now. The years have passed so quickly for Mary and I. Have they passed as quickly for you, Lord? Soon young Jesus will be a man.

I was so amazed today as I heard him talk to the elders in the temple, Lord. His insight on the faith, of how we should live and treat one another, is so extraordinary. He has always shown signs of such spiritual insight. He has been taught well the letter of our laws, and he has such a hold on what he feels is the guiding spirit within those laws. To young Jesus, things are not always simply black and white. Not when there are people involved. Often his insights and actions as a boy have so astonished, captivated, and bewildered people that they would sashay up to me and say, "Joseph, your son Jesus is so insightful. He doesn’t act nor talk like any carpenter we have ever seen. Are you sure he’s your son? Or did he just get a full measure of his mother’s family’s gifts."

On those occasions I would just politely nod my head. Oh. Lord, how often have I wished I could tell them. But the last thirteen years have been hard enough without myself bringing more burdens upon us. It hasn’t been easy for Mary, Jesus, and myself. People have talked.

The whole village knew Mary was with child long before we were to be wed. I knew they expected me to divorce her, to end the engagement. To have done so would have vindicated myself before the eyes of my family, friends, and associates; yes, even the whole village. So people were shocked when I made no attempt to annul our engagement. I am sure that my failure to take action convicted me of the same crime with which they had convicted Mary.

The look in their eyes. The way they talked to us and yet not with us. The way they have allowed the talk and rumors to circulate for years only proves that we are guilty in their eyes. It hasn’t been easy, Lord… It hasn’t been easy.

Yet today I heard Jesus talk with the elders. How he showed such great concern for people our faith so often ignores. When I saw the look of tender compassion that shone from his eyes as in spoke of his God, in that moment I knew I would never have wanted to live in any other manner. I know, Lord, that I have lived the life you called me to live. Has in been easy? No. But it has been right, and it has been good.

I remember back to the time when I wanted to dismiss Mary quietly. I had convinced myself that my concern was for Mary. Now I know now that my desire to annul our engagement quietly was only a smoke screen. In fact I was only looking out for what was best for Joseph. I knew word of mouth can make or break a man and his business. I had counted the cost and decided it would be too costly for Carpenter Joseph to marry Pregnant Mary. I knew if people didn’t think well of me that they were less apt to walk through my doors for their carpentry needs… Far less likely… It was all just a smoke screen.

In the night that your angel came to me Lord, my heart was laid wide open. And let me tell you it is far better to live one’s life with an open heart than just an open mind.

I had lived with an open mind. With an open mind, I had learned the letter of your laws: how we are supposed to live. An open mind gave me knowledge of your word, but on that night, I learned the importance of the open heart. I learned that night that you were not just a God of laws, the Lord of all rules and regulations. I learned that night, that foremost you are a God of love: love that at times goes outside and beyond the law's guidelines.

Why had I been so foolish? How was it that I had forgotten the spirit and power of your love?

Our history is filled with so many stories that convey the prominence of love in your actions toward us. I always marveled at the story of Jonah. How much you must have loved this man, Lord. He didn’t want to do your dealing. He ran from you. He hid from you, and still when you could have made him fish food, you made him to be love’s delight. Through his work the whole city of Nineveh heard your word and turned to you.

In that night of the angel’s visit, I had to answer love’s delight with an open heart and not just an open mind. So I answered the angel’s the call. "Yes," my heart proclaimed, "I love this young girl, Mary. Yes, love doesn’t turn its back. Yes, love doesn’t divorce itself from difficult encounters and walk out into the dark."

But that was not all I answered "yes" to that night. "Yes," I proclaimed, "I love my God. Yes, I desire to be the Lord’s willing servant. So yes, I will be as a father to the Lord’s righteous Son."

There is a heart of love in your word and law, O Lord. I heard its call thirteen years ago. And in spite of all the turmoil, I would have lived no other way. I heard the call of the love again this day. But the call has not come from an angel. There has been no angelic visitation. The call came from Jesus.

This day and in this temple, I have heard Jesus speak of that overwhelming love of yours. Oh how I know how its message has changed my life. I can only imagine how the message of this love can change the people of the world, as they hear it now from your Son, Jesus.

Oh, I hear Mary and Jesus now calling for me. I didn’t realize I had left them for so long. I guess I, too, have been about my father’s business.