Plans [Advent 4A - Matthew 1:18-25]

 The Rt. Rev. Jeremiah Williamson

Matthew 1:18-25                                   

 

Plans

St. Luke’s, Catskill

 

It was not the happiest day of his life, the day he found out his beloved was pregnant.  It was supposed to be, but it was not.

 

We tried for months – my wife and me.  Throwing away all of those negative tests.  Piles of disappointing plastic.  And feeling defeated.  And sad.

 

And so Jen’s grandmother, now of blessed memory, told us to book a trip.  So that we would have to think about something else. 

 

And so, out of ideas, and trusting an older wisdom, we did.  We booked a vacation to Italy – a trip with enough detail and nervousness to occupy, or rather distract, our frazzled minds.

 

With the idea of a baby in the background, we planned and dreamed and got excited.  And then a couple of days before we left on that trip, the plastic test finally showed us a plus sign.  And all of those negatives no longer mattered.  We were pregnant and the tears were now happy.

 

Joseph never got that story.  They didn’t try.  Instead, Mary was just pregnant.  Joseph didn’t know anything except that he was not the father.  And so, it was not the happiest day of his life.

 

But it was one of the weirdest.  Because the bad news of apparent betrayal was met with some inconceivable news out of Heaven. 

 

The angel wrecked Joseph’s plans that day.  They were so carefully arranged.  So thoughtfully considered.  So generously sorted in his broken heart.

 

Because he still loved her, he had to let her go.  Despite his wounded soul, he carefully crafted an exit strategy for the woman who was supposed to be his future.

 

He was going to do it quietly.  He didn’t have to be so quiet.  He could have blown the top off of this scandalous pregnancy.  But he was good man, a righteous man.  He was prepared, and determined, to show remarkable kindness and mercy.  In a rotten time, he was still bursting with the fresh fruit of the Spirit.

 

And, unbeknownst to him, so was Mary.  Holy Spirit stretching her skin, Holy Spirit in the fruit of her womb.  Heaven understood the situation; God knew Mary would have a hard time convincing anyone.  And so the angel showed up to mess up Joseph’s plans.

 

Because while Joseph was writing a future, God had something else in mind.  And if it wasn’t for that intrusive angel, Joseph might have missed it.

 

While we were tossing out tests and learning Italian vocabulary and considering contingency plans, God had something amazing in mind for us: our son Oscar, who was born three weeks early, but came to us at exactly the right time.

 

Advent is always looking into the future.  It counts down the days.  It burns through the candles.  It has made a career out of anticipating Christmas.

 

And yet, while we are planning for the future, God is with us in the waiting.  Our Gospel reminds us that if Joseph had carried out his plan, he would have missed it.  He would have missed the miracle – the most amazing miracle.

 

But he stayed.  He didn’t miss a moment.  And he and Mary watched the divine spark grow into a fire.  And came to understand that every moment was a moment with God. 

 

And it still is.  Christmas is coming.  And it will bring its unique miracles.  But God is already Emmanuel.  God is already with us.  Even in the excruciating waiting.  Even as we feverish plan our best-laid plans.