Reflection
Where the Gospel of Luke shared Mary’s point of view, the Gospel of Matthew shows us Joseph’s mind. We can see the inner workings of Joseph’s mind as he contemplated exactly what Mary may have feared. Thankfully, despite the difficulty of the news that Mary shared, Joseph took time to consider his actions. His response was not hasty.
Two seemingly opposed motivations tug at the reader in verse 19: faithfulness to the law, and sparing Mary from public disgrace.
In between the two pillars of law and grace, we read the words ‘and yet’. These two words – ‘and yet’ – are like the sound of a door opening in Joseph’s heart. Such a small space. Barely a chink.
Joseph was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose Mary to public disgrace. So, he made room between his faithfulness to the law and a merciful response to Mary. He found a way that he could do both, keep the law, and not cause Mary disgrace. Joseph prepared a way, a small way, in which he could somehow both hold the law and care for Mary in his fumbling hands — he planned a quiet divorce. Her pregnancy was for Joseph, an impediment seemingly impossible to overcome.
So often we may try to hold contradictions in our fumbling hands, yet we can only see in part, when God has the way already known and planned.
Prayer: Father, you are full of truth and grace. Thank you for seeing a way to make room for us in your family and in your home. Amen.