The Second Sunday after Christmas
Matthew 2:13-23
The Gospel reading this morning feels like an action-packed story: a quick escape to Egypt to protect the Child who would be the Savior of the world, a tyrannical king who kills all male children under two out of fear that one of them might dethrone him, and a safe return home after the evil king dies.
The story is gripping and suspenseful.
However, one of this morning’s main characters is someone we don’t often talk about; we know little about him. After this morning’s Gospel reading, the only other time we’ll hear of him is when he and his wife Mary are searching for their son as they leave Jerusalem, only to find the boy in the temple, discussing, as the boy will say, the teachings of His heavenly Father.
The man’s name is Joseph, of course, the earthly father of the Christ Child.
In this morning’s Gospel, Joseph provides a template and icon for all fathers to imitate, and his example really began before Jesus was even born, as the angel of the Lord came to him in a dream and said,
Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:20b-21)
The story goes on that when Joseph awoke from that sleep,
He did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. (Matthew 1:24-25)
Yes, I know you know this part of the story, so why is it so important for today? Because Joseph always listened to the Word of the Lord and obeyed it. This is the foundation of all fatherhood: to listen, hear, and obey the Word of the Lord.
Regrettably, too many fathers neglect to regularly read, listen to, and learn God’s Word outside of the Divine Service each Sunday. Then they wonder,
“Where are my children?”
“Why aren’t they still in church?”
You see, if a man is not exercising his faith regularly, how can they expect their household to do the same?
More than ever, the Church needs to regain masculinity, godly masculinity; we need men who walk in the image of the prophets, those godly men who heard the voice of their God throughout the Old Testament and prepared the way for the Christ Child’s birth.
In a series of sermons on marriage and the family, the Church Father St. John Chrysostom highlights the faith of fathers throughout the Old Testament, such as Noah, who receives the Word of the Lord and builds an ark to save his family. Or there’s Abraham, who, despite being wealthy, did not seek fame and riches but sought the Lord’s wisdom, listening to and obeying the Word of the Lord as the greatest treasure of all.
As Chrysostom would write regarding the men of the Old Testament, he says,
All these great men looked at this present life as nothing; They did not thirst for riches or other earthly attachments.
Tell me, which trees are best? Do we not prefer those that are inwardly strong and are not injured by rain storms, or hail, or gusts of wind, or by any sort of harsh weather, but stand exposed to them all without fences or garden to protect them?
He who truly loves wisdom is like this and his riches we have already described. He has nothing, yet has everything; He has everything, yet nothing. A fence does not provide internal strength, nor is a wall a natural support; They provide only artificial protection. What is a strong body? Is it not one that is healthy, whether hungry or [filled], cold or warm? Or is it something that is dependent on restaurants, tailors, merchants, and physicians for health?
The truly rich man, the true lover of wisdom, needs none of these things, and that is why the [Scriptures] admonish us to bring our children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Don't surround them with external safeguards of wealth and fame, for when these fail - and they will fail - our children will stand naked and defenseless, having gained no profit from their former prosperity, but only injury, since when those artificial protections that shielded them from the winds are removed, they will be blown to the ground in a moment.
Therefore, wealth is a hindrance because it leaves us unprepared for the hardships of life. (64)
How remarkable are these words written by St. John Chrysostom in the 4th century? It’s as if he’s living yet today.
What has weakened your family’s faith in the past? How is your faith and the faith of those around you, including your children, being battered by the winds and storms of this life, leaving you and them exposed to the elements of this world?
We live in sad times when the home is more concerned with the adornments of life, whether it be, as Chrysostom said, dependence on restaurants, tailors, merchants, and physicians for health. Or in our time, sports, choirs, and social media status.
It’s time for the men of the Church to rise and follow in the steps of Joseph, the prophets, and patriarchs.
It’s time for us to arise and prepare the coming generations so they might withstand the hardships of this life with the help of the Lord.
And look, this is why Joseph is the perfect icon and image for us to follow, as he received the Word of the Lord, and in a very awesome way, he became the guardian and protector of this, the Word made flesh.
Meditate upon this…
Fathers who follow in the footsteps of Joseph do so by hearing the Word of the Lord themselves—receiving it, trusting in it, and confessing it to their children and families. Then they guard and protect this deposit in their children’s hearts so the Word can take root, strengthening their dear little ones’ faith to be stronger than all the trees.
In fact, we want the children of the Church to grow up under the tree of the cross, always looking and clinging to it, because it’s there that Joseph’s Son would die for them, for you, ensuring forgiveness and life eternal for all who possess faith in Him who was born of Mary.
Still, you say, “Pastor, but I don’t know how to be a Joseph, I don’t know how to lead my children in the faith…”
Thankfully, the father of Lutheranism, Martin Luther, wrote before every chief part of the Small Catechism, “As the head of the family should teach in a simple way to his household.”
Teach the Catechism. Reclaim Lutheranism. Exercise the Christian faith.
As Martin Luther once remarked, “There’s enough in the Catechism to occupy the greatest theologian for a lifetime.”
You possess the tools; they just need to be used.
Now, I understand, some have not been given the gift of children, and you might be thinking, “What can I do?”
There’s plenty; you can always pray for the families, and specifically for the fathers of the church. In fact, everyone should be doing this each and every day. For those children who are fatherless or whose fathers are absent, how can you confess and impart the Word of the Lord to them, and then protect it?
There are no rules against encouraging one another in the faith; in fact, St. Paul wrote,
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
You are to do this because you are a family gathered and united as the holy family was in Bethlehem by the Word made flesh.
Again, how cool is this?
Now, circling back to the beginning today, the truth is, this morning’s Gospel is in fact the start of an action-packed, gripping, and suspenseful story. It’s the story of a father protecting a child who would grow into a man—a Man who would heal the lame, walk on water, and raise the dead.
A Man whose faithfulness to His heavenly Father was so strong that He fulfilled His Father’s will, even dying upon the tree of the cross - for you.
And this man’s name is Jesus, because He was sent to save His people from their sins.
My friends, you have received the most incredible story ever told, so go ahead and tell it to all who have ears, because it’s this Word that permits all of God’s children to withstand the storms and trials of this fleeting life and be led in Holy wisdom to eternal life. +INJ+
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI
