Bonus Poem: Joseph

This is the second of five new poems I'll post each week through Advent. 

For poems for Advent 2, Year A, please see Year A, Second Sunday of Advent

 

 

La Tour, Georges du Mesnil de (1593-1652): The Angel Visiting Joseph in a Dream 

Musée d'Arts de Nantes

"Her husband, Joseph, 

being a righteous man . . . ."

 

Saving Grace

 

The Bible, once again, dares redefine

The notion “righteous” as much more divine

Than oft we make it when we think of laws

All kept, producing someone lacking flaws.

For Joseph’s righteousness stems from his will

To do a gracious thing—and thus fulfill

The law his son would later say is best,

The law of love, by which we all are blessed.

 

And how it blessed him! For he had this dream

That told him that no matter who it seemed

The father of this child-to-be had been—

Abusive soldier? Or perhaps some friend?—

There was another possibility

To lead both them—and all the world—to see

That Jesus, meaning “Yahweh saves,” still shows

That love for all is how God’s spirit grows.

Scott L. Barton

 

The poem has recently been published in The Presbyterian Outlook’s Attending to Advent: Poetry, Prose and Prayer.

 

Her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 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. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:19-21)