Faithfully yours - Christmas is a time to reflect
- Details
- Published on Sunday, December 4, 2016
By Neil Strohschein
The Neepawa Banner
In today鈥檚 society, especially in North America, the news that a teen-aged girl is pregnant out of wedlock will probably send a few shock waves through her family and that of her baby鈥檚 father.
But in the wider community, there will be little or no reaction. Thankfully, the days of referring to children of unwed mothers as 鈥渂astards鈥� or 鈥渋llegitimate鈥� are, for the most part, gone. In the eyes of the law, a person who is old enough to engage in consensual sex with a partner is also old enough to face the consequences of that act, whatever they might happen to be.
The law also affirms and protects the mother鈥檚 right to decide whether or not to terminate her pregnancy (get an abortion). If she chooses not to terminate it, the law offers her two options. She can put her baby up for adoption or she can raise it herself; with or without the father鈥檚 presence or support.
That鈥檚 how it is today. That鈥檚 not how it was in the day that Jesus was born.
In those days, especially among the Jewish people, the rules were very clear. Marriages were arranged by the parents of the bride and groom; often when the children were very young. At the appropriate time, the couple went through an engagement ceremony in which they pledged their love and faithfulness to each other until death. Each then returned to his or her respective home.
They would not see each other for roughly a year. The groom would spend that time preparing a home for his bride. The bride would learn the skills and gather the things she needed to set up housekeeping and raise children. When all was ready, the groom would come for his bride, another formal ceremony would be held and the couple would move in together, consummate their marriage and begin their family.
Any deviation from this pattern was considered a serious offense. So imagine the shock and feelings of betrayal that must have filled the minds of Joseph, his and Mary鈥檚 parents when her pregnancy was discovered. Most were looking at Mary and saying: 鈥淲hat have you done?鈥�
But Joseph is thinking: 鈥淲hat do I do now?鈥� He knew that he held Mary鈥檚 future in his hands and that Mary was trusting him to do the right thing鈥攚hatever that turned out to be.
Joseph had three options. He could accuse her of adultery and demand that she be punished. He could call off the wedding and find another wife. Or he could go through with the wedding, adopt Mary鈥檚 child and raise it as his own. His decision would be made quickly, thanks to a visit from Gabriel鈥擥od鈥檚 messenger angel. 鈥淛oseph,鈥� the angel said, 鈥淒o not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. Her child is the son of God. Call him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.鈥� Joseph obeyed and a quiet wedding took place. Mary now had a husband and a home.
This experience helped Mary and Joseph lay the foundation for a long and fulfilling marriage. Their union was based on trust and faith鈥攁bsolute trust in each other and unwavering faith in God. Those qualities, if released in us, will produce the same results in all our relationships.
This week, take an honest look at your relationships. In which can you see the absolute trust and unwavering faith that were so evident in Mary and Joseph? In which of your relationships is there room for improvement? Let鈥檚 reflect on that this week.
