Joseph, do not be afraid to take Mary
In this nativity Joseph is kneeling before Jesus–a child which was not his that he would raise. I wonder how he felt about his role in this child’s life. Did he ever wonder if he’d be a good father to “God with us?”
In Africa it is not uncommon for someone to take in a child that is not their own. If a relative or friend is sick or has passed away, another relative or close friend may take in their children for a short time or indefinitely. It’s a very tangible way that people show their love and take care of each other.
Imagine if God told you that he needed you to care for his son for a while?
These are our African gourd ornaments. Bigger versions of these gourds are used in parts of Africa as multipurpose vessels–sometimes as cups, sometimes as containers, sometimes as instruments. Like these gourds, both Joseph and Mary were vessels willing to be used by the Lord for his purposes.
From the Bible, the book of Matthew, Chapter 1, Verses 18-25, New American Standard Version (an English translation)
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.
19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.
20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21 “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.”
24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife,
25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.
From the Bible, the book of Matthew, Chapter 1, Verses 18-25, Nueva Versión Internacional (a Spanish translation). Spanish is a second-language and language of wider-communication in one African country. It is also spoken some in a few other African countries and the Canary Islands, which are geographically connected to Africa and politically attached to Spain.
18 El nacimiento de Jesús, el *Cristo, fue así: Su madre, María, estaba comprometida para casarse con José, pero antes de unirse a él, resultó que estaba encinta por obra del Espíritu Santo.19 Como José, su esposo, era un hombre justo y no quería exponerla a vergüenza pública, resolvió divorciarse de ella en secreto.
20 Pero cuando él estaba considerando hacerlo, se le apareció en sueños un ángel del Señor y le dijo: “José, hijo de David, no temas recibir a María por esposa, porque ella ha concebido por obra del Espíritu Santo.21 Dará a luz un hijo, y le pondrás por nombre Jesús, porque él salvará a su pueblo de sus pecados.”
22 Todo esto sucedió para que se cumpliera lo que el Señor había dicho por medio del profeta:23 “La virgen concebirá y dará a luz un hijo, y lo llamarán Emanuel” (que significa “Dios con nosotros”).
24 Cuando José se despertó, hizo lo que el ángel del Señor le había mandado y recibió a María por esposa.25 Pero no tuvo relaciones conyugales con ella hasta que dio a luz un hijo, a quien le puso por nombre Jesús.
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