In the Corner

Today’s message was written by my friend, Rev. Tasha Blackburn.

In decorating for Christmas this year, I’ve been putting out some nativity sets and, as I put them out, I’ve been thinking a lot about Joseph. In my sets, I always place Jesus right in the middle with Mary next to him on one side and Joseph next to him on the other. As I do this, I remember that there are many nativities that look quite different. In those nativities, baby Jesus and Mary and shepherds and animals are all center stage but Joseph, is off in a corner on his own.

Well, not completely on his own. In these nativity scenes, there is an old man leaning into a worried-looking Joseph as if speaking to him. For the Orthodox believers who made the image, the old man is doubt. This makes sense because, when you think about it, Joseph is the first human being ever asked to believe in Jesus. Mary is asked to believe, of course, but she has quite a few things happening to her own body to help verify! But Joseph doesn’t. He is simply asked to believe. In a dream, he is told, “Don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”

I cannot say exactly how I would respond to such a dream and such an ask but I can promise that old-man-doubt and I would have a lot to talk about in the corner! Which is what makes Joseph so amazing. Because, we are told, that when he woke up Joseph did as he’d been told in the dream. In the face of Doubt, he was faithful.

This Christmas, I have a lot to learn from him. I think we all do. For doubt is always there–in the corner–and it might even be leaning into you this season. But that doesn’t keep you out of the scene. You are there. There is room for you in the Christmas story. Whether this year you find yourself right next to him or almost at the edge of the frame, there is room for you.

Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, you know everything about us. You know our great love for you and you know our doubts. In this season, transform our doubt into trust and continue to make us believers. Amen.