IT'S CHAOS. BE KIND.

Matthew 1:18-25

Any of the people from the story of the first Christmas, the wise mean, the shepherds and Mary could wonder, like Joseph, “Why me?” Why were gentiles, the wise men, given the privilege to be the first people to acknowledge Jesus as King? Why were the poor shepherds chosen to be the first invited to see the newborn Messiah? Why was Mary given the honor to give birth to God’s only Son?  Did Joseph ever ask, “Why me?”  Why not?  I think he was the right person to be Jesus’ stepfather. Maybe he’s the kind of person the world needs today.


Have you ever set up a nativity scene? Hmm. Is this one a shepherd or is this Joseph. If we’re lucky, the shepherd is holding a lamb. Hint: Joseph is usually the one holding the lantern. Isn’t that how we think of him – just the guy in the background holding a lantern. He does get to lead the donkey. That’s an important job, isn’t it?

God didn’t choose Joseph to be a bit player in the story of Christ’s birth and life. Joseph was chosen to be the step father of the Son of God, and that’s a pretty important role, and here’s why. Joseph was a righteous man.

Understanding righteousness from God’s point of view means that Joseph loved God with all his heart, mind, soul and strength, and just as important, he loved his neighbors as himself. God’s will was more important to him than any of Joseph’s plans or what his friends and neighbors thought of him. Joseph’s faith and trust were based in his relationship with God, and he lived out God’s law in his life. He was compassionate, loving and forgiving, and he wanted to do right by people. We can see that in his initial reaction to Mary’s news. Even though he felt like their relationship was over, he didn’t want any harm to come to her. He was loyal and protective. A righteous man was what Mary and the Christ child needed.

Righteous people are what the world needs today.

Comedian Patton Oswalt’s late wife, Michelle McNamara, was an investigative reporter specializing in cold crime cases. In her work to bring closure to grieving families, she saw the very worst side of human behavior. Of this, she often remarked, “It’s chaos. Be kind.”

It’s chaos. Be kind.

There are all kinds of chaos happening around us, beyond even what the holidays cause. People’s lives are thrown into chaos because of life-threatening illness or the death of a loved one. Lives can be turned upside down by natural disasters, divorce, loss of a job or living by the crisis of each moment when one lacks the basic means by which to live.

War, terrorism, power-based pettiness, any and all ways humans can purposefully cause harm to one another, causing wounds that cannot be easily healed. If healed at all.

Some are called to sing in the choir. Some are called to preach like Peter and pray like Paul, but all are called to proclaim our faith through our words and deeds of compassion, acceptance, kindness and advocacy for the least among us.

It’s chaos out there, folks. Let’s be like Joseph; let’s live our faith. It’s what the world needs.



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