Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Search Archive Print This Article Teacher being taught Tuesday, December 18, 2012 Matthew 1:18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Of course God made this known to Joseph in his dream, but there is no record of anyone else being told in dreams. Mary and Joseph had a tough road to walk in their community now. Surely not many believed their story. If anyone ever lived on the other side of the tracks, it was this Holy Family. Joseph's willingness to take responsibility for Mary's pregnancy kept her from being stoned. How would he even find work as a carpenter, when his would-be customers turned their faces and refused to speak? Those questions aren't addressed in the Bible story of Jesus' life. But it's obvious that Jesus was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth, no matter how many shepherds and wise men came to worship him when he was born. The lectionary psalm for today, Psalm 72, reads: "He shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him. He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor." Even from before his birth, Jesus lived in shadow as well as light. He spoke of himself as well as us when he later said with such wonderful vision, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Those words are haunting and comforting all at once, Jesus, and they were as true for you as they are for me. We are children, and we will always be children, and God is our maker and our source and our father ... in my weakness you are strong. "; Add      Edit    Delete