December 8, 2002 - Joseph & Mary

Our first reading features Mary and our second reading features Joseph. Mary expresses God?s solidarity with those who are poor and humble. Her Magnificat song speaks of social justice in God?s view of power as the reverse of the world?s.

Then we learn of Joseph?s doubts about his fiancee?s pregnancy and his life-changing dream.

Let us listen for God?s spirit to speak to us today.

Introduction to Dialogue:

Beginning with fairly sparse biblical material, the Christian church has constructed rather elaborate traditions about the families and lives of Mary and Joseph. Many more stories were woven about Mary, her life and family than Joseph. The biblical material about Mary begins with the Angel announcing she would bear the Son of God, and ends with Mary gathered with the disciples on Pentecost, following Jesus? death and resurrection. The last we hear of Joseph is the story about Jesus in the Temple when he was 12 years old, but some traditions have taken shape about Joseph. Usually they involve him being much older than Mary. (If you were here last Sunday you saw that in all the paintings we looked at.) Imagining him as aged emphasizes the idea that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit by implying that Joseph would have been too old to actually father the child. His age also suggests that the reason we don?t hear about him again after that temple incident is that he died.

Never ones to feel constrained by church tradition, Carol and I offer a slightly different approach today. We present Mary and Joseph as being about the same age and we suggest some alternate reasons why the Bible records nothing about Joseph during Jesus? ministry.

We are deeply grateful for Ted and Sarah Lenz?s willingness to make these characters come to life, offering their gifts of acting and sharing their time.

Now let me set the scene for you.

This conversation we will overhear is set in Mary and Joseph?s home in Nazareth. It takes place late in the ministry of Jesus. In fact, while Mary and Joseph don?t know this, you and I know that the events to which they refer take place in what would be the last week of Jesus? earthly life.

The discussion takes place early on Tuesday morning. Neither Mary nor Joseph has slept well, especially since the argument they had last night was ever resolved. Reports of what their son is doing in Jerusalem . . . being hailed on his entry as the Son of David, then trashing the temple in some kind of supposed holy rage have made their way back to Mary and Joseph. These reports are accompanied by rumors that Jesus is getting in deeper trouble with the religious authorities.

Their argument last night began when Mary suggested they should make the trip to Jerusalem, see for themselves what is going on, and perhaps try to convince their son to come back up to the north country where people have always been more tolerant of his radical ideas. Joseph thought the trip was a bad idea. They went to bed with the issue unresolved and the tension thick between them. Dawn has brought a continuation of the conversation. . . .

Set: the chancel with two rocking chairs and two end tables

(Joseph comes in from choir room, takes place in his rocking chair, has newspaper and cup of coffee, reads. Mary enters from choir room, yawning, stretching, coffee in one hand and a suitcase in the other. She sets the suitcase down and sits in her rocking chair. Joseph does not look up when she enters. She is agitated.)

[Mary?s part is in italics. Joseph?s is in regular type]

Joseph, we have to talk. We?ve got to work this out. Please, let?s talk.

(With resignation Joseph lowers the paper.)

I?m not sure why. My mind hasn?t changed from last night. I still think it?s a bad idea for us to go traipsing off to Jerusalem right now.

I know you do, but I also know that you are just as worried about him as I am. I heard you rummaging around in the middle of the night. You just can?t admit that despite all the differences you two have had, you?re worried about Jesus too.

I couldn?t sleep because of you. You were so restless. You even screamed in your sleep.

I was having another bad dream. Joseph, I know how you feel about dreams, but I can?t ignore this one. It was so real, and really scared me. Jesus was in trouble, big trouble. And I don?t mean the kind of trouble we?ve seen him in before when his quick mind and clear thinking has embarrassed powerful people. In my dream angry people were coming at him with clubs and throwing rocks and his hands were tied behind his back so he couldn?t protect himself and I was trying to run but my legs felt like stone and when I tried to shout for them to stop and for Peter and the others to help him the words stuck in my throat as if I was paralyzed. I woke up crying and drenched with sweat. That?s when I heard you pacing around.

Okay, sure, I?m a little worried too. But your dream is just that, a dream. You aren?t a prophet, it?s just you worry too much, even in your sleep. Well, I?m worried about Jesus too. But I also have other worries. I?m worried about all our debts. I?m worried about money. And that?s one thing you don?t seem to worry about.

Joseph, now that?s not fair! I just don?t think it?s as important as you do.

Maybe you would if you had to deal with the people who are canceling their contracts with me because they?ve heard that your son, the one who might run the business some day, is hanging around with no-good tax-collectors, making more friends with rough fisherman than with good business connections and talking to women . . . in public!

Oh sure, a few years ago everybody loved Jesus and I got more carpentry jobs than I could handle. Times were good. We had plenty to eat and our house was warm and dry. But in the last few years, people just aren?t coming to me for work, even though there is a huge building project over in Sepphorus. My reputation?s been hurt by my own son, his radical talk and his so-called friends. The business is in big trouble now and shekels don?t grow on trees.

Money, money, money. With you it?s always business and money. You put too much trust in money. Is it more important than your family? Is it more important than your oldest son who is in trouble and needs his parents right now?

I am thinking about the family. This couldn?t be a worse time for me to go to Jerusalem. I?ve almost got the contract on the new synagogue project signed. It would mean food on the table some new clothes and a bit for retirement, maybe even a little vacation after the job is done. I can?t take the risk of leaving now. There?s way too much at stake.

Oh Joseph, I think there?s way too much at stake not to go. Jesus needs me.

And what about the rest of the family? We need you too Mary. You?ve always spread yourself too thin. It?s like you?re everybody?s mother . . . especially that crowd that hangs around Jesus.

Wait a minute! I like them . . . and they need some motherly advice from time to time . . .

"From time to time?" They need help ALL the time! Come on now, be honest: if you were handpicking people to work with you, learn from you, and carry out what you think is your God-given mission to the world, would you have picked THOSE so-called disciples? First there?s those fishermen ? with that distinctive odor only fishermen can claim ?

That is a problem at times, I?ll admit that . . .

James and John and Andrew . . . and PETER!

(Laughing) Peter is one of a kind . . .

With at least one foot in his mouth . . .

When he?s trying to behave . . .

Usually BOTH feet. I hope he?s never put in charge of anything big. And you?ve got Judas always wanting to give money to the poor, or so he says; do you think you can trust him? He has a rebellion in mind.

We need to think the best of people, Joseph.

(Reluctantly concedes) And you do, Mary. But what about that tax collector ? Michael . . . Maury . . .

Matthew, Joseph. The man?s name is Matthew. And he was a tax collector when Jesus met him, but he?s changed . . . . I think.

(Smiling broadly) See, Mary, even you have some doubts . . . . And you have to admit that they just aren?t the sharpest tools in the shed! They mean well enough, and they?re idealistic . . . but how many times has Jesus himself come home here saying, "They just don?t get it! They just don?t get it!"

Our boy is patient with them ? far more than I am sometimes.

And the women who follow him . . .they say times are changing, but could it be all right for a teacher to have women as disciples ? no offense, now, Mary ? but it?s just not done, you know. But male or female, let?s just say that I wish Jesus had some higher class people ? respectable, you know, and . . . well, Mary, I do worry about Jesus . . .

I know you do, Joseph. And I know you?re disappointed that your son isn?t going to take over the family business. I understand that. I guess we both should have realized that back when he was twelve and we couldn?t get him to leave the Temple.

And I?m disappointed that he hasn?t married yet like our other children and like the friends he grew up with. Sometimes it feels like he?s left us ? forsaken his family.

And that hurts, I know.

Remember that time I took Reuben and David to find Jesus? We found him as usual in the midst of a crowd of needy people. We were afraid for him, and wanted to bring him home. So we sent a message in that his mother and brothers wanted to see him, and remember what he told the crowd?

Yes I do.

He said, "Who is my mother and father, sisters and brothers?? All who do God?s will ? these are my family."

You came home very hurt. That day bothered us both for a long time . . . still does.

You?re right, but he means well, at heart. He loves God. He wants to help the poor and sick. He really believes he can change the world.

We should have seen this coming from the beginning. That night in Bethlehem . . . the shepherds, the starlight . . .. It?s never been easy to be his parents. But we?ve done our best, haven?t we?

I think so. We haven?t been perfect parents, but each of us in our own way has tried to do what?s best for him. And our marriage has gotten stronger, Joseph, as we?ve weathered these storms together. And we?ll make it through this one too.

We will. I know you?ve always had a soft spot in your heart for his crazy causes. And I know you, I know you have to go and be with him now. Find someone to go with you, I want you to be safe. You do understand, don?t you, why I have to stay here?

I understand, Joseph, and I love you for all you do for this family. Pray for me for my journey.

I will. Pray for me . . .for business.

I will. And let?s both pray for Jesus. You know, we both knew that God was with us from the day I found out I was pregnant. And through all the amazing and strange things that have happened since then God has been with us. So God will be with us and our dear son now too. Maybe I can convince him to come home and stay with us for a little while.

Perhaps . . .

(They get up and hug, kiss goodbye and say their last lines then Mary picks up her suit case and exits down the center aisle and Joseph heads out through the choir room.)

I should get going or I won?t get far before sundown. Good-bye. I love you.

Good-bye. Take my greetings to Jesus. May God protect you on your journey. May God protect our son too. I love you, Mary.