Listen, Trust, Obey Written by Lijin Raju ( Dallas, Texas )

Listen, Trust, Obey

St. Matthew 1:18-25

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us." Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus."

Scripture refers to Joseph as a just man. How was he a just man? Was he a just man according to the Jewish law or according to Christ or according to his own wisdom/reasoning? According to the Jewish law, if he was fair or just, he would have taken Mary and stoned her. If he was just according to Christ, he would have accepted her, stayed with her and cared for her. If he was just according to his own wisdom, he would have put her away secretly, not taking her as his own wife but also not letting her be harmed in any way.  Which one did he do? Faced with a dilemma, he was given discernment through the voice of an Angel and he did accordingly to the divine will of God. Now this is the Royal, Holy Family after which we should all model our families.

Christ’s birth is prefigured in Scripture. His incarnation was not a result of the fall of Adam. Rather the intention of the incarnation is there even before the creation of Adam. Through His incarnation, not only is He redeeming our sins through the Cross, but He is teaching us to become selfless and to lay down our lives for others as well (teaching us to become like Him). St. Mary accepted at her annunciation, that she would be the handmaid of the Lord. And now Joseph accepts, after having the angel explain to him how Mary conceived of the Holy Spirit, and not of a man. Joseph overcomes his uncertainty regarding Mary’s conception exemplifying that nothing will stand in the way of Christ and His Cross.

We recite our faith in the Nicene Creed, “And was incarnate of the Holy Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit”. Joseph was not Christ’s biological father, but only legally. Christ was enfleshed (took on flesh) through Mary by the Holy Spirit. Joseph worried but then he listened, trusted, and obeyed. Therein lies the tie between Joseph and Christ for because he listened, trusted and obeyed the word of God, he was able to bear Christ in him as well.  Our purpose is to become like Christ. In order to become like Christ, we must understand Christ and sacrifice ourselves to allow him to be born in us. In a sense, we are preparing during this Nativity fast as if we ourselves are going to give birth to Christ. The Holy Spirit dwelt in Mary through her ear. She heard the word of God, accepted it, and was ready to do accordingly to God’s will. We must shut out the noises of this world that have reduced the word of God to a faint whisper, so that we may hear and allow it to dwell in us.

St. John Chrysostom says “For it is far more difficult, judging by human reason, for God to become man, than for a man to be declared a Son of God. When therefore thou art told that the Son of God is Son of David and of Abraham, doubt not any more, that thou too, the son of Adam, shalt be son of God.” As St. Athanasius simply put it, “the son of God became man so that man might become god”. This veritable truth of the Incarnation is what emboldens us as a fallen creation to be reconciled to the Creator.

May we be steadfast in listening, trusting, and obeying as we prepare during this Nativity fast to bear the son of God within us. Let us not stop there but rather go through the liturgical year ready to partake in his crucifixion and resurrection. Let us also abstain ourselves from preventing others to also bear Christ within them. Let us be purified by burning our sinful habits during the Christmas service and allow Christ’s light to shine through us.

Questions for Meditation

1) Do we know what it means to bear Christ within us? Are we doing anything to find out?

2) Are you preparing yourself during this Nativity Fast to bear Christ within you?

3) What can you do to shut out the noises of the world so that you may be able to hear the word of God clearly?

Author’s Information:

Name: Lijin Raju

Area: Dallas, Texas

Email Address: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it