Advent 4, 2007

Isaiah 7:10-16

Psalm 80:1-7,17-19

Romans 1:1-7

Matthew 1:18-25

I love it when a plan comes together. When I have organized something and ironed out the details and then it all just fits into place…

You know, like when the checkbook balances the first time through, or the party is perfect., or you come home from shopping and you haven’t forgotten anything. Or the weather is good and everyone comes home…and no one squabbles or fights.

Yeah. Like that happens everyday…only in my dreams does everything come together perfectly, have that perfect happily ever after ending.

Reality is a lot more ragged, messy, unpredictable, uncontrollable.

But then again, so are dreams. The dreams you have at night, the ones that wake you in fear and trembling…the ones that scare you so that all you have when you awake is not the details of the dreams, but the feeling. Or perhaps your sleeping dreams are comfortable, exhilarating, floating dreams…

Joseph had a plan. He was betrothed to Mary. The families had come to their agreements, the dowry was ready. Joseph was preparing to bring Mary to his home, while Mary was preparing to leave her family and move to Joseph’s place.

It was all set. The plan was coming together as it should, the details in place, honorable and right.

But then it was rumored that Mary was pregnant. And then it was real that Mary was pregnant.

Joseph was prepared to do the right thing and give up his claim to Mary so the father of the baby could do the right thing and marry her…so Joseph had a new plan and it was good an quiet and did the best it could for Mary.

And then, having a plan ready to go, Joseph relaxed. He stretched and yawned with contentment and then fell asleep.

And had that dream. The one that shook everything up. “Joseph, Son of David. Do not be afraid.”

Hmm…if you a messenger comes to you in a dream and they start by saying, “Do not be afraid.” Wake up quick!!! Or your life will be turned upside down. Happens every time…

“Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”

Wait a minute? And who’s the daddy?

This is like being hit with a ton a bricks. Joseph had a plan, it was all set. He had dealt with the crisis of Mary being pregnant, and was ready to quietly step out of the picture and try to save face for himself and her.

But this angel from God told him plans had changed. It’s still going to be Mary. You might think someone else would be better for you…some other plan…

But God said you are to stick with Mary. And care for both her and the baby. By the way, name the baby Jesus/ saves and Emmanuel “God with us”.

And Joseph wakes up and does the God thing. He takes Mary to be his wife after all; regardless of what the neighbors think, in spite of appearances. Joseph does not what the law allows, but what God commands…

And here it is, Mary and Joseph and this baby. A different sort of family.

This isn’t a traditional family picture here is it…Joseph takes on this child and this woman and God enlarges the definition of family from the very get-go of this holy story.

I find a lot of hope in that. For in a season of Hallmark movies and cards, of the pressure to have the perfect family in time for the perfect holiday celebration…

We have this family…Joseph, not the Dad, Mary, and an illegitimate child on the way. Thrown together by God to be part of a story far bigger than each of them alone.

A child named “save” who is with us to save us from despair, grief, guilt and shame. A child who will follow in the footsteps of God, shake things up, mess with our best laid plans, and send us off in new directions.

A child whose presence is first made known to Joseph in a dream. And who believed his dreams? Mary, for sure. And God, and the rest of the folks really didn’t matter…as long as one person believes in your dreams…

What a fine mess Joseph has gotten into, then when he tries to fix it God steps in and makes it messier, but holier.

Maybe, maybe if we just relax a little, trust that God is still in charge, that messy is maybe okay. That God is the details but also in the big picture. Maybe if we just relax our expectations of ourselves and our families, if we let go of what society expects of us…

Maybe then we too will fall asleep and dream dreams. Dreams of a new day in which God, not society, defines our families. Dreams of a new way of living in which God sets the tone…starting every act with “do not be afraid.” Dreams of a life in which we are not alone, but Emmanuel, God with us is indeed with us in this hour, in this day.

Dreams of new ways of doing things, seeing each other, understanding the world…

And then when we wake up, we wake up knowing that God is already here, already saving us, already walking with us, already holding our hand.

And when our best made plans fall apart, we can see the blessings of God at work, showing us new ways, leading us into a new life.

The world is about to turn. Tomorrow we gather back here to celebrate and sing and soak in the wonder of the birth of this child. And it is not about us and our plans and our definitions.

It is about God: a God of dreams and of hopes; a God who enlarges us at every opportunity; a God who shakes us up and sends us off in new directions.

So relax, and dream, and wake, and live. God is with us. Amen.