Parenting, especially for first time parents, is oftentimes mixed with a collection of emotions. There’s joy, trepidation, fear, uncertainty, excitement and the list goes on. Regardless, being a parent under the circumstances of Mary and Joseph, paints a totally different picture, unlike one that has never before been experienced, and never since. Here we find a young Mary (most scholars suggest was between the age of 12-16) bestowed to a man named Joseph (who many scholars believe was significantly older). Although, this was common practice in those days.
So now we have two situations rolled into one, when it comes to the birth of Jesus; Mary, who is a virgin is informed by the angel Gabriel that she’s expectant; Joseph who wants to do the honourable thing and divorce his wife, after Mary notified him of her current position. Mary received the news from the angel and said, ‘Be it unto me according to thy word’. However, Joseph’s response was, ‘being a just man, and unwilling to put her on public display, decided to divorce her quietly’.
The one phrase commonly used to address both parents individually, was ‘fear not’. For Mary it was good news the angel was bringing concerning the act of the Holy Spirit . For Joseph it was also good news of the act of what the Holy Spirit had done. Read St Luke 1:26-31 and Matthew 1:19-20 respectively. Mary was about to receive some experience of the Holy Ghost resulting in her pregnancy. Joseph was about to receive delegated responsibility from the Holy Spirit to be the earthly father of the baby Jesus.
Although fear was the response of both parents, ‘fear not’ was the directive of the Holy Spirit. Scripture reminds us ‘For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind’ ~ 2 Timothy 1:7
The plans that God has for us are great and on occasions may initially appear somewhat overwhelming, but for every situation God has equipped us with the necessary tools and resources to get through.
Joseph Campbell wrote, ‘the cave you fear to enter, holds the treasure you seek’.
This week as we face the week ahead of us, may we not fear the challenges ahead, but may we rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance and direction, so that our lives may give greatest glory to God.