Commercial Christmas is over, gifts are already being returned, and for some people, the tree is already out on the curb. As Christians, we are working our way through the twelve days of Christmas. We anxiously awaited the birth of the Christ child and we looked adoringly at his mother Mary, but what about Joseph? As we carefully set out the manger scene, we placed baby Jesus at the center, put Mary close by looking at her son lovingly, and then we looked for Joseph. As we sifted through the figures, it was difficult to tell which figurine was Joseph and which was a shepherd. Joseph was not dressed in flashy robes like the wise men; he wore a basic tunic and sometimes held a staff so we could understand how he could be mistaken for a shepherd. We picked the most dignified looking, ordinary man of the figurines, and that was our Joseph.

To me, it seems that Joseph and the importance of the role he played in the life of Jesus is overlooked. We highly celebrate Mary’s acceptance of her visit from the angel Gabriel and bearing God’s son. Do we do the same with Joseph’s acceptance of his dream to care for Mary and the baby Jesus? Do we really appreciate the man who God chose to raise his son?

We have a man whose fiancé is pregnant, and the baby is not his. This story is as old as time. Every culture has different ways of viewing this situation, and in Joseph’s time, it was an impropriety worthy of stoning. He could have announced to the community what had happened, and Mary and the child would have been killed. He could retain his good reputation and just go on with his life. But we read in Matthew 1:19: “Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly” (NRSV). Joseph chose compassion, mercy, and grace over his own reputation. He put Mary and her unborn child ahead of self. It is no wonder that God chose Joseph to be Jesus’ earthly father. Even without knowing that Mary carried God’s son, Joseph showed kindness and caring for them. He was not following the norms of his culture but instead followed the path that God had planned for him. Little did Joseph know how complicated a path it would be, but it was his calling, and as with Mary, he accepted the Lord’s command. He married Mary and named the son Jesus.

Are we living into God’s Word for us? Would God consider us to be righteous enough, good enough, to be a Mary or a Joseph? Joseph showed compassion, mercy, love, and grace in a difficult situation. Those are all the same things we ask God to show us in times of difficulty. They are the same attributes that we look to our family, friends, and community to show us when we are struggling with difficult decisions and times of grief. Joseph seems to be just a minor mention in the life of Jesus, and yet he played such an important and often overlooked role. He was a protector of Mary and the baby. He led the way to Bethlehem, he led the way to Egypt and safety, and when the time was right, he led them back to Nazareth. He chose the ways of God over the ways of his world. Are we prepared to do the same? Are we willing to choose compassion, mercy, love, and grace over the noise of our society and be a Joseph?

May the light of love that shines so brightly in this season guide our hearts, minds, and actions every day. May we care and protect others as Joseph did for Mary and Jesus. I recommend the book “Faithful: Christmas Through the Eyes of Joseph” by Adam Hamilton.

Rev. Carol Johnson serves as pastor for Redeemer Lutheran Church on Washington Boulevard and Saint Michael’s Lutheran Church in Quiggleville.