18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
— Matthew 1:18-25, NRSV
What has the Lord given you to carry lately?
You remember people talking about the cross they have to bear? It comes from Jesus telling his followers (us) to take up our crosses and follow him (Matthew 10:38; Matthew 16:34).
The problem is that many people see that as any burden we have to carry. But some burdens are self-inflicted. Others come to us because of commitments we have made to other people or vocation. What Jesus is talking about is that burden we gladly bear for the sake of the Gospel.
In the New Testament, Joseph is one of the first people to do this. He discovers that his affianced is pregnant. Out of consideration for her he decides to divorce her quietly, but he has a dream where it is revealed that she is carrying a child from the Holy Spirit.
Joseph makes the decision to carry the burden of being engaged to a woman who is pregnant (not by him) and enduring the ridicule and hardship that can bring. Why? Because he voluntariliy takes that burden upon himself for the sake of the Gospel.
Perhaps we have opportunities to do things for the sake of the Gospel that are not very pleasant. Maybe Joseph can serve as an example for us to gladly take upon ourselves that cross for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Almighty God,
Sometimes we are afraid that You may ask too much of us.
In fact You only lay opportunities before us.
Help us to be bold enough to take up those
opportunities to serve You and the
Gospel of our Lord.
In Christ's Holy Name we pray,
Amen.