Adoption

Adoption

 

It seems almost perverse
Like logic
In reverse
That, with no time to rehearse
Without searching scriptures
Chapter and verse,
Without fathoming
How deep the purse
This finite man, Joseph,
Should adopt
The maker of the universe

The Maker who had first ,
Adopted him,
For better or  for worse
To be the one
Who would bear the one
Who would bear the curse,
To provide for the one
Who would disperse
The treasures of
This maker
Of the universe,

To Adopt the
everlasting
Father of
The universe,

He adopted
The child
Who would be orphaned
By his death,
The child Who, by his own death
Would secure Adoption
For all,

And Joseph gazed
Without biology
On the baby face
Of eternity
And saw first
What none could see
Previous to this moment
In history,
And took Jesus, to his heart,
Took Jesus, as his own,
Took Jesus, in a manger,
As if it were a throne,

Reflection: Small and Significant

In the December when I wrote this particular poem, as I may have mentioned, I was trying to produce a poem a day, for the duration of advent. Rather underwhelmingly, I think I stopped at 19 days, but writing something new every day caused me to (have to) approach the nativity from many different angles, like walking around a sculpture in a museum or gallery. The best ones always give you something new with every repositioning. The nativity has more than enough angles of it's own  to keep providing you with fresh perspective. Anyway, it was only a matter of time until I got round to Joseph. 

Joseph doesn't really get the accolades. He is, seemingly an integral character, for sure. But mainly a supporting one.

When I actually spent time thinking about this from his perspective I was awe-struck at what a privilege this man had. His name provided legitimacy for the son of God. His son's name would provide legitimacy for all who believed in it. To think, he could have cast Mary out, to save his own face, but he chose the harder road, the more narrow of the two paths. He may be a footnote in the story of Jesus, but I believe, as is the spirit of the Kingdom, he will be greatly honoured, for his part, in heaven.

Can we be the 'silent partner', like Joseph? Can we be John the Baptist? Can we be lesser that he be greater? Can we quietly get on with the business of loving Jesus, without a fuss, without demanding attention? 

That challenges me. (He says, whilst writing and saying 'read my blog, read my blog').

I want to say this. Joseph was a hero. An unsung hero. I guess I wanted to sing a bit. I imagine him as the strong and silent type. A still waters run deep kind of guy. But this is speculative, of course. The truth is, he barely makes a scratch on the content of the new testament. It is only because of his connection to Jesus that he is remembered at all, and yet his contribution, though small, is enormously significant. 

We may feel small and our contribution may seem meagre, but you have no idea how pivotal you are in some-one's story. And there is no one so small that they are insignificant to the Father. No. He notes every hair of your head, and every day of your life is written in his book. For every character, supporting or otherwise, is supported by the Lord of life. He goes unsung and unwritten so often. He serves in ways we will only become aware of on the day mysteries are revealed. For He, being in very nature God, made himself of no reputation and took on the nature of a servant.

~Scripture~

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

~Matthew 1:18-24~