Exposed in Obedience

In the movie The Nativity, which is about the birth of Jesus and the events surround it, there is a scene where Jospeh is talking to Mary’s parents about the situation that they all found themselves in with the pregnancy of Mary. Joseph tells St Anne and St Joachim that he will not make an accusation against Mary. He says that if there is no accusation then she would be safe; basically she would not be stoned to death. In scripture we hear it said that Joseph decides to divorce Mary quietly, which is essentially the same as not publicly accusing her of infidelity. By divorcing Mary publicly and accusing her of infidelity, Mary would have been held accountable under the law and she would have been condemned. Joseph didn’t do this, which is what ultimately saved her life and the life of the child in her womb.

We can safely assume that Joseph knew Mary was virtuous, that she was a woman of her word, that she was holy. Mary is the Immaculate Conception, one can only imagine what effect she must have had on everyone she met, including Joseph, her future husband. Knowing this about Mary, and then also learning that she was now pregnant, Jospeh was in a very tough position. What was he to do? He certainly loved Mary and felt that she should be honored, but he also loved the law and desired to be obedient to it out of his incredible love for God. Joseph’s decision to divorce Mary quietly was the result of his righteousness, because it honored both the law and Mary.

I can’t help but wonder what this would have done to Joseph if God hadn’t stepped in and redirected him. If Joseph would have gone through with the quiet divorce of Mary, then he too would have been subjected to the “scandal” of Mary’s pregnancy. By not accusing Mary of infidelity, which would have cleared Joseph of all wrongdoing in the situation, people would have been led to believe that it was Joseph who was unfaithful with Mary, the both of them breaking their vow of not being with one another until they were wedded. Therefore, his decision to divorce Mary quietly was no small act of kindness, for he was also brining potential shame upon his own name.

Joseph’s decision here is an incredible act of mercy. For he didn’t shift the blame to Mary, much like Adam did to Eve in the garden when the Lord God found them hiding after the fall. Joseph quietly and humbly protected Mary from the condemnation she would have received by being accused by him. Joseph had mercy upon Mary and was willing to sacrifice his own reputation in order to safeguard Mary and the baby in her womb. Scripture describes Joseph as a righteous man, meaning he obeyed the law and was interested in doing God’s will first and foremost in his life. Joseph was more interested in doing what was right and just, what was God’s will, what was truly merciful, no matter what suffering he may have had to endure as a result.

While Adam and Eve found themselves exposed by their disobedience, which is why they hid from God, Jospeh and Mary found themselves exposed by their obedience. Both Joseph and Mary choose mercy and love, trusting in the providence of God, even when it meant suffering for themselves. Adam and Eve hid from God in their shame and both of them shifted blame so as to not experience consequences for their actions.

Joseph is more important to our salvation than we may think. His righteous act of mercy undoes the response of Adam, which brought down consequences (original sin) for all of mankind. Joseph instead chose to be merciful. He did not shift the blame, although he very well could have. God gave Joseph the opportunity to open wide the door of mercy for all mankind by safeguarding the Savior’s entrance into the world. This merciful act is rewarded by God when Joseph receives the message of the angel in his dream, confirmation that what Mary was saying was true. This message from the angel, as well as the future ones Joseph received as the father of the Holy Family, blesses his vocation by giving him direction and fortitude to step into his role as husband of Mary and earthly father of the Messiah.

So often we may feel exposed and vulnerable, especially when God is asking something big of us, something that lies outside of our comfort zone. But we have a beautiful example in Joseph and Mary, of how to respond, how to choose obedience and mercy, even when we know it may mean we will suffer as a result. May we trust ever more fully in God’s providence. May we believe in His goodness and love, and his ever guiding hand that directs our path to His everlasting blessings.

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