Whenever we watch a film or go to a play, our focus is purposefully drawn to the actors on stage.  The lens of the camera, the opening of the curtain direct our attention on the lead figures placed in front of us.  Sure enough, while they tend to be the stars of the production and the fact is they are necessary to the telling of the story, the film or play could not happen without the huge number of unsung heroes who play pivotal roles in the background: camera crews, set designers, stage hands, audio and lighting specialists, prop personnel.  It takes all of these people to pull off the telling of the tale but we rarely get to appreciate their roles.

The Christmas story is much like this.  It is, after all, the recounting of Jesus' birth so it is expected much of the focus should be on him.  As well, Mary is a lead actor and it stands to reason she also should be the center of much of the attention.  But the father of the story-Joseph-gets placed in the background as having little importance.  But Matthew's Gospel says otherwise.  For it is to Joseph the angel of God speaks at a few key and auspicious times and in so doing, the future of his child is placed wholly in his hands and, in that manner, the entire fate of the world ultimately rests on what Joseph decides to do.  Think about it for a second: our lives just may be the result of the decisions one Jewish man made a bit over two thousand years ago.  That gives Joseph a much greater role to play in the story of the Savior of humanity.  And now the story rests with us.  Will we assume our great role even as unknown actors?  Or will Joseph's role end with us?

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, ^"Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven."  But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test."  Then Isaiah said: "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also?  Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.  Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel."

 

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way.  When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.  Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.  But just when he had resolved to do 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 as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’  All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
   and they shall name him Emmanuel’,

which means, ‘God is with us.’  When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

 

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.