My sister Sarah has a birthday 2 days before Christmas and she will tell you that it’s not the best time to celebrate one’s entrance into the world. Because everyone is focussed on Christmas, her birthday gets mostly ignored and blended into the holiday. And who can possibly compete with Baby Jesus! He is like Baby Yoda; he wins every time! A similar thing often happens with the 4th Sunday of advent. Because it takes place a few days, sometimes a few hours before the celebration of Christmas, most of us, priests included, gloss over the message of the readings because our minds and hearts are already fixated on Christmas. But that would be a big mistake because these scriptures are full of spiritual treasure!
The first reading, from the prophet Isaiah, takes place about 700 years before Jesus was born. Ahaz is a young man, with relatively no experience, who has become king of Judah. He is a descendant of King David but unlike his forefather, he is not blessed with peace or prosperity. His kingdom is under siege from the mighty and vicious Assyrians who are destroying country after country with their powerful army. As a young king, Ahaz is indecisive and getting lots of advice from all different directions. Some people tell him to go to war, others to try and bribe the Assyrians for peace. He is leaning towards making an alliance with several countries who have traditionally been enemies of his kingdom. Then Isaiah speaks up, “Don’t put your trust in men, armies, politics, or riches! These are all human means and they will crumble and fall. Even the mighty Assyrians are only men, they are no match for God. Isaiah pleads with the young king to go to God for help and dream big, as we heard in the first reading, “Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God; let it be deep as the netherworld, or high as the sky!” In other words, go to God for your solution! He is just waiting for your invitation to solve your problem.
What does Ahaz do? In a spirit of false humility, he says, "I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!” What seems to be piety is actually pride. Ahaz had made up his mind that he, not God had to find the solution to the Assyrians. And he didn’t want to go to God out of fear God’s plan would challenge what he had in mind. He was afraid to dream big, to believe God could and would preserve the house of David against its enemies. After Ahaz says he will not ask for a sign, Isaiah replies (probably with extreme exasperation), “Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary people, must you also weary my God? Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.
I’m sure this prophecy struck Ahaz and his court as pure lunacy! As far-fetched as victory over the Assyrians seemed, it certainly appeared more plausible than a virgin conceiving and giving birth to the savior of God’s people. If one is only willing to think in worldly, political, and human ways, Isaiah speaks madness. And yet, this is how far God is willing to go to save his people; he is willing to do the impossible, if we are open to dreaming big. Ahaz was afraid to hope in God’s power and intervention. Instead he limits his dreaming to what seems wise in the view of the the world and to his own thinking. Which was a really bad move! His refusal to ask for God’s help ends in disaster with betrayal, defeat, and incredible suffering for his people at the hands of Assyria.
Fast forward 700 years to the gospel, which involves another member of the house of David, whose name is Joseph. He too is grappling with a serious problem. His soon-to-be wife Mary, is pregnant and Joseph knows the child is not his. This would be a source of scandal and dishonor in any society but especially in the honor culture which Joseph and Mary lived. Matthew tells us Joseph is a righteous man, which means he loves the Law and follows all that it commands. The Mosaic law calls for women in this situation to be put to death. And yet Joseph’s righteousness is tempered by compassion and mercy. Instead of wanting to turn Mary over to shame and death, as is his legal right, he wants to divorce her quietly, which would make the best of a seemingly no-win situation. We often gloss over these verses about Joseph but it shows us the beautiful balance he had between following the law of God and practicing love for others. Many times you and I make them opposed to each other, we chose one to the detriment of the other. But Joseph gives us the example of how to integrate both for the glory of God and the good of our neighbor!
Joseph is ready to send Mary away until he is visited, in a dream by an angel, who dares him to dream bigger. “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.” Like Ahaz, Joseph has a choice: go forward with his own plan which seems to make the most sense to the human mind, or follow the mind-blowing will of God which somehow makes the impossible a reality. Thank God Joseph did what Ahaz could not, he trusted in God, changed his plan, and behold, the sign Isaiah gave to Ahaz is fulfilled for the house of David in Joseph: the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son.”
As we reflect on the wonderful wisdom of God, perhaps we can ask ourselves these questions. Are we willing to dream big when it comes to God? Are we ready to go to him with our problems and let him solve them with us? Are we open to his Will and Wisdom that often appear impossible at first glance? Or do we fall in love with our own solutions and approach to problem-solving? Are willing to be like St. Joseph, righteous, in love with God’s law, but also merciful and compassionate? Are we able to be changed and corrected when God points out a better solution to the problems that vex us?
Today’s readings give us plenty to think about as we see the very different outcomes of King Ahaz and St. Joseph. One trusted in worldly wisdom, power, and politics instead of God and it led to disaster. The other humbled himself, dreamed God could make the seemingly-impossible happen, and placed himself at the service of God by loving and protecting Mary and Jesus. And by playing his part, Joseph helped God’s plan of salvation to be carried out, not only for the House of David, but for all nations. So which one will we be? The choice is ours; dream big and trust in the Lord!
