Search
-
December 18, 2021The angel of God came to Joseph in a dream, as he did with so many great figures in the Old Testament – Adam, Abraham, Israel. As with each of them, Joseph is given a task: he is to take Mary into his home. The rest of the command given to him seems far more mundane than bringing about the rise of a nation of Chosen People. The angel simply tells him that Mary will bear a son, and Joseph is to name him Jesus. How simple a command, but how enormous the significance! Joseph was charged in a special way was to proclaim the name of Jesus – in fact, this is the only thing Scriptures tell us Joseph spoke. In doing so, he announces the fulfillment of the prophecy of Jeremiah, who promised the coming of the saviour.
Joseph therefore becomes the first person after the birth of Christ to preach the Gospel message of salvation. He does so, inspired by the same God he preaches, simply by speaking the name of Jesus. We’re one week away from Christmas. God is calling us today, like Joseph, to rise immediately and preach the name of Christ. This doesn’t need to be any grand gesture; Joseph did it by naming the newborn child. We too, through our everyday actions, can preach the newborn Christ, so that – as the Psalm says – the whole earth may be filled with his glory.
