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Sermon December 18, 2022
The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, MSW
The Church of the Nativity and St. Stephen’s
Fourth Sunday of Advent
https://lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Advent/AAdv4_RCL.html
Audio: /documents/Eucharist__December_18__2022
Video: https://youtu.be/fS9lbWq60pk
But 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. Matthew 1:20
Please be seated
My father was a prolific writer. I am lucky to have some of his writings in his own handwriting. It’s funny the things you remember. Of the many things my father wrote and presented, I remember that one year he wrote a piece about this Gospel lesson we read today. He wrote about this whole episode in Joseph’s life from Joseph’s point of view. I looked through my father’s writings this week, but could not find that piece. I don’t even really recall much from it, only that it was written, read and well received.
And as things often go or as Godincidences occur, I thought a lot about Joseph this week. In our Gospel reading, it seems like Joseph believes Mary has been unfaithful to him. We don’t see Joseph get angry. Rather, he will “dismiss her quietly.” He will not publicly accuse her of adultery, a crime for which the punishment was being stoned to death. All is changed when an angel sent from God explains the situation to Joseph.
This week a seminary professor of mine posted an article from 2016 about the Carol of the Cherry Tree, which shows a different, and maybe, to many of us, more human side of Joseph. It turns out the carol is based on an early Syriac Christian dialogue hymn, which found its way into Medieval mystery plays, especially one called Joseph’s Doubt.
There are different versions of the carol that have been recorded by many singers and as is the case with such folk songs, the words get changed a little. Here is one version that was sung by Sting:
When Joseph was an old man, an old man was he
He courted Virgin Mary, the queen of Galilee
He courted Virgin Mary, the queen of Galilee
When Joseph and Mary were walking one day
Here is apples and cherries so fair to behold
Here is apples and cherries so fair to behold
Then Mary spoke to Joseph so meek and so mild
"Joseph, gather me some cherries for I am with child"
"Joseph, gather me some cherries for I am with child "
Then Joseph flew in anger, in anger he flew
"Oh, let the father of the baby gather cherries for you"
"Oh, let the father of the baby gather cherries for you"
So the cherry-tree bowed low down, low down to the ground
And Mary gathered cherries while Joseph stood down
And Mary gathered cherries while Joseph stood down
Then Joseph took Mary all on his right knee
Crying, "Lord, have mercy for what I have done"
Crying, "Lord, have mercy for what I have done"
When Joseph was an old man, an old man was he
He courted Virgin Mary, the queen of Galilee
He courted Virgin Mary, the queen of Galilee
Which is more true or maybe both are true? Joseph was angry and also not vengeful.
I think Joseph has much to teach us for our lives today.
For instance, sometimes like Joseph, we are in situations we do not fully understand nor cannot fully explain in rational terms. They are mysterious to us. What was Joseph supposed to think when Mary was pregnant? He knew only one way that could have happened and based on that, he made a decision to not marry her and to “dismiss Mary quietly.” He couldn’t fathom that maybe there was something true and yet inexplicable going on.
I also like the Syriac Christian understanding that maybe Joseph did get angry at first. That seems so entirely human and like us. When something so mysterious and unexpected happens that changes how we thought our lives would or should go, anger is often, I think, one of our responses.
But Joseph did not totally conform to what society would want him to do, which was to condemn Mary, report her to the authorities and have her stoned to death. He came to a more humane position. Yet, in the way God wants us to treat each other, Joseph did not go far enough.
God needed to send a messenger to confirm that what Mary said was true. And in what was truly exemplary, Joseph listened. Joseph believed the messenger. Joseph did something even more radical than his original plan. Joseph married Mary after all.
And it appears that Joseph loved and cared for Jesus as his own son.
We can imagine that Joseph faced ridicule for his actions of marrying Mary and raising Jesus as his son. And we can identify with how difficult it is in our own lives to go against the grain of society…to do what God asks us to do, which is to love God, and love our neighbor as ourselves.
When we look around at our community and at our world, we hear and see so many times how we mistreat each other and how we mistreat the world…how we are cruel to each other and cruel in our exploitation of our earth. Staying in a loving place towards God, our neighbors and ourselves is radical and can open us up to ridicule.
Joseph reminds us that we can do it. We, too, can trust the mysteries presented before us. We, too, can trust in God’s leading and guidance. We, too, can survive any ridicule or harm that may come from following Jesus Christ.
In verse 24 of our reading, we hear: When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife….” May we, like Joseph, have the strength to do whatever God commands of us.
Amen
Biblical Archaeology Article: https://www. biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ biblical-topics/post-biblical- period/the-origins-of-the- cherry-tree-carol/
Cherry Tree Carol – Sting https://music.amazon.com/albums/B002SYXCVK?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_2qBKB488Mx01bhfm6wMAq6j5E&trackAsin=B002SYZHOK
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=mZp5rkPpqlQ
Lyrics: https://www.songlyrics.com/ sting/cherry-tree-carol- lyrics/
