A Lenten Reading of Matthew - Day Two

Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:18-25 (NRSVUE)

While the Gospel of Luke has more detail about the birth of Jesus, it definitely comes from Mary's perspective.  Matthew's Gospel features the view from Jesus' earthly father Joseph.  

It is important that Jesus is raised by a righteous man as named in verse 19.

I doubt if Joseph would wear this shirt!

Sometimes, when we hear the word righteous, we may think of self-righteous rather than a more positive attribute.  This is unfortunate in that Christians may have moved our thoughts in this direction.

Righteous as defined by chapter 29 of Job tells us that he was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.  He was a father to the needy and championed the cause of the stranger.

While self-righteousness is very self-serving, Job's righteousness is one who has active compassion for those who are outsiders in society.

Job's definition fits Joseph in that according to Jewish law, he could have had Mary stoned to death.  He did not let his public honor or standing (which were very important in that community) get in the way of his mercy for his fiancé.

In Matthew's Gospel, Joseph receives an angelic dream rather than a physical encounter.  This may remind the reader of the Jospeh of Genesis who also received divine dreams and later interpreted them.

It makes sense that Jesus would have had an earthly father who was righteous.  We see Jesus act with similar values in his ministry.  When he comes upon the woman caught in adultery (and on the verge of being stoned to death), would Jesus have thought of the possibilities of his own mother?  Following the example of Joseph, Jesus engages the situation with righteousness.

What are some of the examples of righteousness that you can name from past influences on your life?  Where are the deeds of mercy that made an impact for you?  What will be the example that you set for those listening to the words you say and watching the actions you take?

Prayer for the day:

God, let me put right before interest,
Let me put others before self,
Let me put the things of the spirit
before the things of the body.
Let me put the attainment of noble ends
above the enjoyment of present pleasures.

Let me put principle above reputation.
Let me put you before all else.

Amen.

Prayer by John Baillie, Church of Scotland, 20th Century

Photo by Bjorn Stromberg via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.