The Gospel of Matthew presents a dream that came to a man named Joseph after he had considered how he would eliminate a big problem he had of a woman he was engaged to who was pregnant but not by him! Joseph is the first to get such an important dream, according to Matthew, who in his gospel doesn't even mention a dream coming to Mary or the angelic visitation of Gabriel to Mary. So where can we find the images or paintings of the annunciation to Joseph? I'm sure they're out there somewhere, but this part of the story just doesn't stand out to artists or excite people. I guess it's not as beautiful an image to some as the angel appearing to the young maiden Mary. And then, of course, Joseph fades from view quickly, while Mary hangs in there all the way to the cross.

In an effort to contrast and show both annunciations from Matthew and Luke, I'll deal with the dream to Joseph for the rest of this week and Sunday too, with a larger, more elaborate piece and message. In this image above I pay homage to Tanner's annunciation image to Mary with his powerful blast of electric light that seems to appear instead of the Angel Gabriel. After all, Matthew does say that Joseph woke up from his dream --that this was a dream image --that is how the new direction came to him, --as a dream!

My congregation and friends understand the interest I have in dreams and my question as to why it is we don't speak of dreams very much anymore. The Bible in both testaments is full of dreams, which is the 

manner in which God's messages seem to get through to humanity, and yet we postmodern people just have very little to do with dreams and even challenge the idea of something like that coming through the unconscious. Nevertheless, in our story, one of them at least, a dream comes to a man who because of the dream changes his mind (this is big news here) --and because of the dream he actually takes the pregnant maiden as his wife!  Because of the dream he accepts and adopts the child as his own --and because of the dream he sets in motion a miraculous advent of our Lord!  Which leads me to ask what dream of mine or yours (that is God's dream) would encourage a change of heart? Perhaps not in such an elaborate way as with Joseph's mission he gets from God, but maybe even more so for Jesus does indicate, as John declares (14:2), that his believing followers will do even more remarkable things than he did!  Who believes that?

It may be in just very simple ways for us to begin to live in a more generous and more loving way and to go beyond what we think we deserve or expect --to become more like Christ! This is indeed part of our wonderful Advent opportunities and meditations!

"....Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, With us sing our Savior's birth."
(1862 version of Angels We Have Heard on High).

Peace be with you!    --Pastor Jack