Matthew 1 (NRSVue)
18 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 pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. 20 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. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 “Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.”
The presence of God is often revealed in unexpected ways.
Here are some questions for discussion:
1. Joseph found his salvation in trusting God in the Christmas story. Would you consider his faithful patience a gift of sorts? How can we be sure to recognize the real gifts in our lives?
2. The instruction “do not be afraid” comes alongside a call to act—how does the passage seem to treat fear not as a disqualification but as something to be moved through, and what does this imply about courage as a learned practice rather than a fixed trait?
3. By the end of the passage, Joseph obeys—but nothing is actually “fixed” for the couple in terms of their day-to-day experience of walking through this situation—how does the story hold faithfulness and uncertainty side by side, and what permission does that give us in our own unfinished stories?
If you’d like to dig a little deeper, consider the following:
1. The angel tells Joseph not to be afraid and offers direction without providing a complete picture of what lies ahead—what remains unresolved after the message, and what does that suggest about obedience without full reassurance?
2. The child is named both Jesus and Immanuel—one pointing toward purpose, the other toward presence—how do those names carry distinct meanings, and how does our understanding shift when salvation and companionship are named together?
3. If we approached this passage without the contextual weight of tradition or familiarity, what tensions or uncertainties might feel most unsettling—and how might that unease draw us toward deeper reflection rather than immediate resolution?
4. Joseph did what he was instructed, no more and no less. Joseph personified the notion of no small roles just small actors. For someone that has so much of his story unknown, this is what he is known for. Given the same opportunity would you be able to follow through with such faith? or would you fiddle with the edges in the face of worldly scrutiny?
5. In the first verses of Matthew 6 we learn about how to give and to pray with humble faith. In this lesson today we are reminded that not all salvation comes with bold proclamations and flashing lights. What makes this subtle approach rooted in humility so much more Christ-like than megaphones and fireworks? Is this a more effective approach to discipleship? In what ways?
For further contemplation, consider these prompts:
1. Amidst the chaos of the world it can be frustrating to wait on God to show up, in such times how have you managed to remain patient and faithful? What steps are available to us to help our brothers and sisters remain faithful during times that test their patience and faith?
2. In a world bent on castigating the faithful for loving the immigrant, the orphan, and the widow it can feel a certain way to follow the teachings of Jesus. Have you had an experience where you were shamed, or felt shame, for living out your faith crazily? How did you deal with this situation?