Dark times - December has the shortest days of the year – and the longest night. – Night – darkness is around - no light around – no one is able to see – no clue what is ahead – or behind - a time that, in the mind of many, brings fear – what could be around that corner. Night is a time of hiding, doing things in secret- Thieves are loose – nothing good seems to happen at night. No parent likes to receive a call from a child at two am – nothing good happens at two in the morning. Advent is supposed to be a time of hope - but what good can there be at night in the darkness?
Dark times – Armies March – Ahaz – The king of Judah – successor in the line of David – His kingdom is under threat – The Kingdom of Judah is only two tribes of Israel – The other ten split generations ago with their capital in Samaria – and now they are marching south towards Jerusalem - Ahaz is legitimately worried – a larger army is marching– it seems that night is upon him. Nothing good is happening. What is he to do?
Dark times – seven centuries later, the Jewish people are under the control of the Roman Empire – and St Joseph is Betrothed to Mary. – Betrothal was a period after Vows and consent had been given, but the bride had not yet moved into her husband’s home - the bride might still live with her family for about a year or two - later, the husband would take the bride into his home during the wedding ceremony. – If Mary was betrothed to Joseph – that means that vows have already happened – They are married, even if not yet living together - And Mary pregnant – and not from Joseph – It seems that night is upon him- what is Joseph to do?
Dark times all around – Ahaz faces them. St Joseph faces them – and today – we face them. What we face today may not be an advancing army coming to conquer or the control of a foreign empire – but there is darkness - Political discord and division –economic worries and concerns –homelessness and drug use on the street - societies’ loss of faith and direction – turning from God and instead to all different ideologies. These are not new – yet sometimes, in the long nights of December, they can seem worse – as if they will just go on and on - It can appear as a long night, without hope.
Night can seem to be all around – where is the light? That light of Christ? The light of the world? Ahaz faces dark times – and Isaiah is there to advise Ahaz – But Ahaz chooses not to listen – he claims in false piety to not want to test the Lord – but actions speak louder – He does not turn to God for help – but to the Assyrian Empire – a foreign power with enormous armies – trying to buy a means to keep Jerusalem free.
Yet Isaiah gives a promise – “Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel” – A promise disregarded by Ahaz – Instead of turning to the Lord, he turned to Assyria - and he saw the Assyrian empire capture Judah’s neighbors – at his death, Assyrian looking south towards Jerusalem. – Turning to a foreign empire has not ended dark days and the night overshadowing – only brought them closer.
Seven centuries later, in Nazareth – Joseph is facing a decision – what is he to do? He is a righteous man –– he does not want to shame Mary – but what is a man to think? – He at first decides to send her away quietly - but there, at night, an angel comes in a dream – “do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.” Unlike Ahaz seven hundred years prior – Joseph listens and follows – listening to the angel and obeys – taking Mary into his home – and raising the child as his own child
Ahaz received a message through Isaiah – but turned away – Trusting military power instead of the Lord – looking to the Assyrian Empire – The darkness remained – no light – no hope – was found in the military might of Assyria – just a new darkness. All that is found is despair.
But Joseph listens and obeys – for here in the darkness is this child that Mary is carrying - the child that fulfills those words from Isaiah seven hundred years prior – Emmanuel – God with us has come – For the child is Christ – the Son of God, - the second person of the trinity taken on flesh – something that we prepare to celebrate next week at Christmas – That during that night just over two thousand years ago – a light enters the world in a manger there in Bethlehem– the son of God – come for the forgiveness of sins. Hope is found
One Anglican hymn says – “we praise you, father, for your gifts, of dusk and nightfall over earth, foreshadowing the mystery, of death that leads to endless day.” – Darkness – night – death – yes, they are around – but the light of the world is born into – this night – and darkness cannot conquer the light of a single candle – It is Christ who is born to defeat death by his death – light going through the darkness – and beating it – leading to the resurrection and endless day – hope in the night.
Here we are – the last week of Advent – The sun sets early, rises late – long nights – it can get cold – and darkness is all around – The world has its problems – we have our challenges and difficulties, and they have not gone away - but Christmas is close at hand – we are making final preparations – We are getting homes ready – the tree is purchased – lights getting set – final travel plans – but also getting our souls ready – let us follow the example of St Joseph – listening to the message of the angel, and prepare to welcome Christ, the light of the world – the source of our faith, hope and joy – even in the midst of night and darkness.