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This Week's Sermon THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT 19 December 2010 "Joyful Waiting" Matthew 1:18-25 LSB Series A Vicar Andrew W. Gray Soli Deo Gloria!

What happens before a birth? It is not an instantaneous thing. There is plenty of waiting that takes place between when the child is conceived and then actually born. For any of you who have waited for a child you know that you face a large range of emotions. There is pleasure and joy in that time of waiting. There is also fear and uncertainty. But at the birth of the child the joy takes center stage rejoicing in the child that has been brought into the world.

Our reading today brings us all the way to Christmas day, but we are still in the season of Advent. The beginning of the text though begins well before Christmas day. We often times forget that Jesus was not announced to Mary and Joseph and then born all on the same day. It is extremely tempting to think this way since this is one of the few times during the year that we think about Jesus being in the womb. The simple fact is all of these events surrounding Christmas did not happen on the same day. This extraordinary child also took nine months to mature in the womb just like you and I did. Therefore, we should focus a little on the time when the birth was imminent but had not yet taken place.

We find Joseph in the middle of this waiting game. Here is a good and faithful man stuck in quite a dilemma. In fact our reading tells us that he was a just man. A man of good standing in the community. What should he do with this woman who is now carrying a child? It is too early for anyone to know that she is pregnant because after all like other women pregnancy is not obvious at first to those around you. It can be hidden but only for a certain amount of time. Before too long people would know that Mary had gotten pregnant before she was married. Joseph certainly was not joyous about this turn of events.

In our society, we have long lost sight of what this meant. It is not uncommon for people to have children out of marriage and then maybe get married. Other couples are married while the woman is pregnant by the man she has been engaged to. This is not given a second thought in our culture most of the time. Here we have quite a different situation. Joseph had not known Mary and so how is it that he could explain to anyone that she was pregnant?

If he had said it was not his child the people would have stoned Mary to death. This was the law for someone who had committed adultery. Joseph came up with what he thought would be a better solution. He thought this would be for her good because he did not want to see her killed even if she had sinned against him. But that is not where the story ends. Throughout all of Joseph's deliberations our Lord is already in Mary's womb. The Scriptures read "...before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit." (ESV) He had already entered into the world. Our savior was living right there in Joseph's own household even when he didn't realize it yet. The savior was so close yet unknown to the world.

With one visit from the angel all of the fear and doubt that Joseph had was changed to joy. We find joy in the message of the angel. "She will bear a son and you should call his name Jesus." (ESV) In that message Joseph understood that what he was to do would not be easy, but knowing what his task was he found joy and assurance in the path that had been given to him from God. The angel tells him that he should not put Mary away but that he should take her as his wife. The child was to be his and would be called "God with us" as the prophets told. This is the announcement to Joseph of the child and all of this joy and happiness was with them before the Lord was even born. Now the waiting would be joyful the cultural difficulties would be no match for the joy that the message had brought him.

Just as Joseph did not put Mary away we are not to put away Christ. And this is a message for the whole year not just at Advent. Remember, Joseph was considering doing this long before Mary was going to give birth. We do not put Christ away because that would be the easy thing to do. Our world is not kind to those who profess that they are hopelessly lost because of their sin. You find yourself an outcast among friends because you spend time at the Divine Service. In their eyes they think you are wasting your time. Do not believe them. You know that because of your sins you deserve death.

You know that when someone tells you that you don't need church because you are a good person they are wrong. Do not listen to those who would have you deny your faith and depend on your goodness. Do not be afraid to keep Christ at the forefront no matter what the world says. Our trials here are nothing compared to the life reserved for those who deny God.

Our Lord is so close to returning to judge this earth and at the same time this is unknown to the world. We go about our business and make our plans unaware that this could be the day of his second advent. We do not take heed of the signs all around us. These signs that we have been talking about the whole season of Advent. The signs of wars and rumors of wars. The turmoil sin brings onto the world. The return of our Lord like the birth of our Lord, is imminent.

Joseph waited joyfully. You also wait joyfully. The Lord will return to rescue all of you. He has conquered your sin through his death and resurrection. What is more you know that God is always with you. When he comes and conquers all of the difficulties and pains of this world you will enter the glorious resting place in heaven. You are so close to the advent but yet you are still waiting. You experience the pains of a world that has no place for you, a world where sin rules. Like the pains of childbirth that are forgotten with the birth of the child so will your trials pale in comparison to your entrance into the glory of the Lord.

Here you are at the last Sunday in Advent. The tunnel has narrowed right onto the crib of your Lord. He is coming again soon and everyone will know. And since he has come before you know that he is coming again. You are now living in a time of waiting. The difference is instead of the nervousness that Mary and Joseph faced in their waiting you are left only with the joys. Nothing will happen that is not for your benefit. Your Lord is coming, comes, and will come again for you. With joy you wait and with faith you know there is no fear for those who wait for the Lord. Our Lord comes for you and in that there is sure and certain hope. It is in this that we pray come Lord quickly.

In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.