Sermon-The Annunciation to Joseph

The Angel appears to St Joseph, Brother Claude Lane, O.S.B

A sermon given during a service of Sung Holy Communion (BCP) at St Giles-in-the-Fields on Sunday 29th December 2024 (The Sunday after Christmas) based on texts from Galatians 4:1–7 and Matthew 1:18–25.

Today, the Gospel describes the visit of the angel to Joseph, announcing the coming of Jesus. 

Unlike the record of the annunciation to Mary in Luke’s gospel, Joseph’s ‘yes’ to God is preceded by a brief glimpse into his thoughts at the time. 

Written for a community of Jewish-Christians, Matthew is concerned throughout his gospel to show that the two are not mutually exclusive. Perhaps as a result, his account highlights the conflict Joseph faced between his role as the pregnant Mary’s future husband and the expectations placed upon him as a law abiding and righteous Jewish man – and shows how both can be fulfilled in submitting his life to Christ.

Prior to his encounter with the angel, we are told that Joseph – who was likely to have been considerably older than Mary - is thinking about breaking off their engagement quietly. In doing so he hopes to avoid exposing her to public disgrace – and a potential death sentence – after conceiving during the customary period of cohabitation prior to marriage. As well as the immediate shame, perhaps the long-term financial impact on the arrangements agreed between their families was also on Joseph’s mind? 

A just man, we are told, Joseph was searching for a way to live faithfully according to Jewish law but also act honourably towards Mary and her family. The stakes – and the stress - were high. Joseph was caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place and doubtless had many disturbed nights before finally managing to nod off. Then one night in his sleep, an angel of God appeared to him in a dream and asked him to set aside his fear and to proceed with the marriage.

Today we might call the dilemma Joseph faced ‘role conflict’. It remains a significant cause of stress. The term comes from studies in the workplace, where seemingly incompatible expectations can be placed upon us when there is ambiguity or overlap between the different roles we are required to fulfil. For instance, where a manager has to discipline members of a team who they consider to be their friends. 

But - as our glimpse into Joseph’s thoughts reveal - it’s not just at work that we encounter role conflict. It can be found in all areas of life - and particularly where different areas of our lives meet. Role conflict is often especially apparent in our own lives at this time of year, when it is common to return home for family gatherings and it can become necessary for us to perform the roles of sibling, child and parent – all at the same time and in the same place. Circumstances which can often lead to friction.

It isn't always a third party - another person - who places these pressures upon us; it is just as likely that role conflict arises from expectations we place on ourselves or from a desire to conform to overlapping societal and cultural “norms” - to have, for instance, a successful career and a happy family.

Joseph’s resolve to quietly end his engagement with Mary was the only path he could see through the conflicting demands of the role he was expected to perform as a Jewish man in the culture of the time and his sense of what it meant to act with decency - and mercy - towards his fiancée and her unborn child. But it was a far from perfect solution. One that would have left all three of them like square pegs in round holes. Not really fitting in.

The annunciation - the visitation of the angel - to Joseph in a dream - changed his perspective. He sensed that the pieces of his life could fit together in a different way - a better way perhaps - even though he couldn’t see the whole picture for himself. By the grace of God a different path was revealed to Joseph. One that his tradition and experience alone could not have offered. One that had the potential to lead to fullness of life for him and his family.

In his letter to the Galatians, St Paul explains that such freedom - the freedom to be the person that God has made each of us to be - can never be found solely by our own merits - by conforming to the roles established by laws and traditions passed down by our forebears. Such a life will always be subject to friction as we struggle against the conflicting elements of the world.

Trying to live according to the expectations of our parents or the example of an older sibling will mean we are always trying to force the various pieces of our lives into a mould that doesn’t quite fit. 

The gospel gives us a glimmer of the friction that Joseph felt when he tried to do that. Perhaps it’s a feeling we recognise? 

St Paul assures us that our salvation - our true and lasting freedom - is found only by modelling our lives on the risen Christ, whose Spirit has - through our baptism - been sent forth into our hearts - from where it is crying out to God. Crying Abba - which means Father. 

Rooted deep within us is a yearning for the life of wholeness, of completeness, of harmony that is a life aligned to the will of our Heavenly Father. 

Only he can offer each of us the unique gift of freedom to be the person we were made to be. It is only through him that we can find our true rest.

Luke’s gospel records the joyous song of praise that Mary sang to her cousin Elizabeth when that yearning had been fulfilled in her. Matthew’s gospel leaves us to imagine how Joseph expressed his joy when the pieces of his life seemed to finally slot into place. I’m sure his song - however he sang it - was just as glorious. 

Today the scriptures offer hope to all who wish to learn how to sing that song. We start by tuning in to the voice crying out in our hearts, calling out to God.

Joseph offers an example to all faithful people who are struggling to do the right thing – juggling seemingly incompatible expectations set by ourselves, those around us, or society at large, through the different roles we are expected to perform. 

All those who feel that there must be another way, a better fit, less friction, more harmony.

He shows us that by submitting our lives to the grace of God it is possible to hold these seemingly divergent parts of our lives together and become the person that God means us to be.

Image: The Angel appears to St Joseph, Brother Claude Lane, O.S.B