Christmas in September

Matthew 1:18-25

In the first three verses after the genealogy, the Trinity is mentioned: "the birth of Jesus the Messiah", "pregnant through the Holy Spirit", and "angel of the Lord". Of course the divinity of Jesus is one of the big questions that is addressed in his lifetime and beyond but it seems as if Matthew is making it clear that something new happened that involved the whole God-head. It gives the sense that all of heaven is involved in this story.
I think that it is also significant that the Holy Spirit plays such a prominent role in the birth of Christ. I tend to focus more on the Father and the Son and the dynamics of that relationship. I must not forget that the Holy Spirit was intimately involved in the story right from the beginning. I wonder if God knew that the role of the Spirit would be downplayed on the one hand and overly emphasized on the other. It's interesting to me that the Spirit is mentioned at the very beginning of the OT (moving on the surface of the waters) and the very beginning of the NT.
Joseph is also an interesting figure for me that often seems to fade into the background of the story but plays such a unique role. He should really be the hero and example for so many men who are acting as a dad to children who are not his own! What I learn from Joseph in this passage is that even when I do things with as pure motives and with a desire to what is right in terms of the law and what is right in terms of people, I still may be wrong. Joseph's desire was a good one: uphold the law by not marrying Mary but not exposing her to public ridicule or worse. However, his decision was still not the one that God wanted him to make. This gives me comfort at the same time: God did not condemn Joseph for trying to do what was right (even though it was wrong) but revealed to him the right path to take. In my quest to do what is right, I can move forward with confidence knowing that God will correct me where I am wrong.
The second thing I learn from Joseph is the importance of immediate obedience. Joseph has the vision of the angel and, when he wakes up, he does what the angel told him to do. There was no waiting - the very next morning Joseph completes the marriage. I think this is an indication of what Joseph wanted to do and how much he loved and wanted to be with Mary but it is also an indication of his openess to the will of God. Immediate obedience? That's not so much a marker of my life. I wish it was.