Imagine That!
Dear Savannah and Sutton,
The inner journey requires imagination, and simultaneously produces imaginative ideas, creative possibilities and transformative options. We tend to be dominated by other people’s imagination; their music, their movies, their architectural designs, and their creative inventions. The inner journey moves you from the outward experiences that you take in with your senses, to the domain of the imagination where you see with new eyes. Give your soul the chance to let your imagination run wild.
-Dad
Inside Out Lectionary Letters
Year A - Fourth Sunday of Advent
Readings for December 21, 2025
Isaiah 7:10-16 / Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 / Romans 1:1-7 / Matthew 1:18-25
Summary of Matthew 1:18-25
This passage tells the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. It provides insight into Joseph’s role in the story. In Jewish culture, betrothal was a legally binding contract, stronger than most modern engagements. Mary’s pregnancy, therefore, was a major scandal in the eyes of society, and Joseph’s response shows both compassion and integrity.
Joseph is portrayed as a model of obedience and mercy. He balances justice (honoring the law) with kindness (protecting Mary). His decision to follow the angel’s instruction shows his trust in God over social convention.
An angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream, telling him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife. Joseph obeys the angel’s command. He takes Mary as his wife but does not consummate their marriage until after the child is born. He names the child Jesus, as commanded.
Scripture as a Mirror of the Soul
This is the fourth Sunday of Advent. It is the week in which we celebrate the birth of Jesus. The practice of giving gifts is connected to the gifts the wise men brought with them when they made their pilgrimage to the birthplace, as well as an acknowledgement of God’s incredible gift of redemption. In all of the celebration it is easy to forget some of the difficult questions one might have with this passage, as well as important considerations that might get overlooked in the frenzy of Christmas pageants, musical presentations, and nativity scenes.
First, a few of the questions:
The first half of Matthew chapter one is dedicated to the genealogy of Joseph, covering 42 generations. This is immediately followed by a statement that Joseph was not the biological father. What then is the purpose of listing the geneology of Joseph?
If “all of this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet” (Isaiah 7:14), then why did the angel instruct Joseph to give him the name Jesus instead of Immanuel?
A dream plays a crucial role in this incredibly important passage. Why? Is there something I should learn from that?
Teaching paths for this passage often include instruction or reflection on the names Immanuel (God with us) and Jesus (the Lord saves). Or we glean a great deal of wisdom from considering the faithfulness of Joseph and his trust in the message of God, and his faith in the future provisions of God.
Joseph is exhibiting great compassion for Mary in wanting to handle the unexpected pregnancy in a fashion that will not expose her to humiliation or shame. In psychological terms, he is using his static feminine energy. This is the part of Joseph that is sensitive to other people’s pain, and cares for their well-being. On the other hand, he has a bent toward the masculine side that pays attention to rules and society’s order. The rules call for a divorce and he feels the need to follow the rules. This internal tension is often exemplified in the conflict between the mind (typically ruled by logic) and the heart (sensitive to emotions and intuition). This is the dilemma of the push and pull of the masculine and feminine parts of our self. For Joseph this results in a compromise; he decides to put her away (as a nod to the static-masculine need to follow the rules), but to do so privately (out of respect for the static-feminine need to be compassionate).
There is another voice that Joseph hears. It is a divine voice within, that is personified in an angelic figure and points to a different way. The voice encourages him to take a radical approach; stay with Mary and have the child. This is the dynamic energy of both the masculine and the feminine parts. It beckons him to ignore the internalized opinions of others, push against the norms of the culture and embrace the prospect of a new adventure, a new way of thinking, a new way of risk-taking, a new way of living. For Joseph, this is the embodiment of the name of Jesus; the Lord saves. Joseph is becoming a new creation where all the different aspects of himself, the masculine side, the feminine side, the static energy and the dynamic energy all have a voice in the decisions and choices of his life.
All of this came to Joseph in a dream. Maybe we should pay more attention to dreams. Matthew’s account of the birth and protection of Jesus actually contains four dream stories. We will consider the significance of this when we look at the passages from chapter 2 of Matthew.