Healing Rays of Righteousness

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18, NIV). Read that verse again slowly and thoughtfully.

This was one of the scriptures supporting our pastor’s message yesterday, “Christ Among Us, Showing Us Justice.” As I contemplated this verse, two words, “message” and “power” challenged my thinking, and I heard a new message enlarging my usual perspective of the cross.

Jesus’ sufferings and crucifixion death on a cross as it relates to our salvation from sin, is front and center in our thoughts and teachings during the weeks of Lent, and rightly so. But there is an additional, equally important, and powerful message from the cross. It is this; Jesus’ death by crucifixion was not only necessary for our eternal salvation, it is also the consequence of being LIGHT and exposing the many dark evils of injustices, racial disparities, and religious hypocrisies in the world around him.

The prophets looked into the future and wrote, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:2). The gospel writer, John, introduces Jesus by writing, “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. And in chapter three, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” Then John records Jesus’ own declaration in chapter eight, “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world.”  (John 1:4-5, 3:19, 8:12).

Throughout his earthly ministry, Jesus was LIGHT, calling out and exposing the evils of disobedience to God’s created order and rule among both the religious and national authorities. It is significant that during the week before his crucifixion and death, Jesus enters Jerusalem as king, goes first to the Temple and exposes its evils of polluted worship behaviors, declaring the religious establishment as weak and limited. Later in the week, standing before powerful Pilate, Jesus again declares himself to be king and reminds Pilate that his authority is weak and limited.

Thus, we can say, with biblical support, that Jesus’ death was the consequence of his being LIGHT, exposing the evils of hypocrisies and lies in both church and state, as well as being necessary for our salvation and reconciliation with God.

But then I remember Jesus saying to his disciples then and now, “You are the light of the world. … … let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14,16). And I begin squirming with “what if” fears, in light of the message I just heard regarding Jesus’ death on a cross being the consequence of being LIGHT. I prefer less risky witness activities, and so pray, “O God, strengthen me in being your LIGHT in my world.”

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – March 4, 2024 – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – Ray M. Geigley

There are days when I am physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted, crushed, and devastated. The present situation or circumstance is just too much to navigate, and I want to give up. Most likely you also have felt this kind of weariness and oppression during difficult times in your life.

Whenever we experience such difficult opposition or disappointment from others or are suffering prolonged injury or illness, our usual defenses slowly erode until there is little strength left to face another day. And at such times, it is difficult to see or imagine God’s presence and his guidance for our life. So, what do we need to do, where do we turn for help in such times as this?

Of most importance, we need to remember that we are not alone. God is with us as says the psalmist, “The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.” (Ps. 37:23-24).And, being present with us, God has promised to guide our steps, one at a time. “The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” (Ps. 32:8).

My experiences have taught me that journeying through difficult life experiences is much like driving my car through the darkness of night. I can see only as far as my headlights pierce the darkness, but I keep driving forward and the headlights keep piercing the darkness with a pathway of light. And I complete the whole trip through the darkness, trusting my headlights to keep showing me the way forward.

My forward progress may be slowed down when my headlights make visible an accident or road construction and detours. Also, a dangerous storm of wind, rain, or snow may slow or delay my travel. And yes, these unexpected delays can cause me frustration and possibly elevate my fear and stress, but my headlights (faith and trust) will continue to show me a pathway of light, leading to my destination.

Yes, many times I wish I could see further ahead into the next week, month, or year, but that is not how God promises to guide us. His promise is to guide us one day, one step, one headlight beam at a time; and we journey forward by faith, believing that God’s indwelling presence and directive light will continue to show us the way through the darkness that surrounds us.

Being physically blind, Fanny J. Crosby knew the importance of needing to be guided by another. She wrote the words to the hymn, “All the Way My Savior Leads Me,” as her song of praise to God for his faithful leading in her life. The hymn was first published in 1875. May it be our song of praise every day.

“All the way my Savior leads me; what have I to ask beside? Can I doubt His tender mercy, who through life has been my Guide? Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in him to dwell! For I know whate’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.”

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – February 28, 2024 – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – Ray M. Geigley

No one chooses to journey into difficult and troubling wilderness experiences. Not even Jesus. Wilderness experiences are a part of being human in a world of evil. Many are the unfortunate events that cause us much pain and suffering.  During these difficult wilderness times of anxious uncertainty, we struggle with inner feelings of being forsaken and unloved.

These times can be very desolate, lonely, agonizing, and scary. The wild beasts of anxieties and fear crouch in the brush nearby, ready to pounce and strangle us emotionally and physically. The slimy creatures of various temptations slither around waiting for the opportunity to strike with their deadly poisons. And the ugly vultures of doubt and despair circle overhead, waiting to devour whatever hope we are still clinging to.

I can say with certainty that every difficult wilderness experience has its wild animals that threaten us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Challenging our Christian faith, these demonic creatures intend to diminish our moral and spiritual values and destroy our belief and trust in a loving, caring Father God.

For that reason, I need to remind myself and you that throughout the biblical story, God repeatedly proclaims his unlimited love for us. We are told that God sees, God hears, and God acts by moving close to be present with us and strengthen us in confronting the threats these wild animals of the wilderness throw at us.

Mark says, “He (Jesus) was with the wild animals.”  And then he says, “and angels attended him.”  Both the Hebrew and Greek words translated as “angel” mean “messenger.” The angels are God’s messengers of hope, providing encouragement and strength when Jesus most needed it. And we can be assured that God’s angels do the same for us children of God.

Believing God’s promise, we can be assured that we are not alone in the wilderness. And we can feel God’s presence as His angels provide the strength and the reassurance we need to remain confident of God’s ever-loving care and provision for us.

Jesus understands the wilderness and its wild beasts. Jesus understands our loneliness and despair, because Jesus has already been there and in every way tested and stressed even as we are.  And he is with us, promising never to leave us nor forsake us.

With increasing faith and trust we can journey through the wilderness experience, and say with the psalmist, David, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4). Thanks be to God!

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” –www.geigler13.wordpress.com – Ray M. Geigley

In response to last week’s blog, “My God, Why …?” a reader questioned; “there has to be something other than God’s promises. In those dark moments, promises appear to be empty and mocking. Do you have anything else to offer?” The following is my answer.

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Yes, God’s promises are empty and useless until we choose to “trust” the promises as our only lifeline and draw hope and life from them.

My dark times of feeling forsaken, led me to the importance of two 3-letter words “but” and “yet.” These two small words turn the tables on every situation, and when read in the Scriptures regarding God, they make an immensely significant impact on our relationship with Him.

In Psalm 22, I noted the word “yet” in verse three and the words “trust” and “trusted” in verse four. In my contemplation, I remembered the promise to Joshua, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5).

Then I remembered how this promise guided and encouraged God’s people throughout their history. And I also remembered that this promise is affirmed to God’s people in the New Testament. (Hebrews 13:5-7). To this promise of God’s faithful love I cling, even when I cry “My God, Why.”

In Isaiah 64, the prophet Isaiah speaks of agony and hopelessness until we come to verse eight. And again, the first word, “Yet,” is the most important word in the entire text. “Yet you, Lord, are our Father.”

This declaration of faith is made in spite of the fact that there is no external evidence to support it. There is nothing left in the life of this captive people to suggest to them that they were still being cared for by a loving God, who loved them like a Father.

Being exiled from their homeland, they had nothing. Everything was gone, including their hopes and dreams for family and a future. There is nothing left! Nothing but that one little word “yet.” 

And that “Yet you, Lord, are our Father,” brings us full circle back to our own faith. “We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” The glorious truth is that in God’s hands we are never without hope. It is the skill of the potter to see in a glob of mud the lovely creation which will emerge when that mud is worked upon the wheel.

It is only the love of God that can take the deepest darkness and despair that life can throw at us and use it to remold and shape our lives into new creations, with new life and new possibilities.

But for this to happen, God’s promise and our trust must be married in a mutual covenant of LOVE that assures us the needed physical, emotional, and spiritual resources for nurture, recovery, and healing through every frightening, distressing, chaotic darkness of “My God, Why?”

To illustrate; If I wanted to fly to the west coast and I knew the promise of the airline company that they would fly me there safely. That promise is empty and worthless until I trust the promise enough to purchase a ticket and check-in at the airport? But even that is not enough action to make the promise effective. I must board the plane and take a seat, fully trusting that the plane is mechanically capable, and the crew properly trained to fly me to the west coast. So, it is with God’s promises. Trust required!

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4) 

Thanks for making me think deeper. – Ray G

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – February 14, 2024 – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – Ray M. Geigley

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by day, but I find no rest.” (Psalm 22:1-2).

There are many psalms that ask this same question: “Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?”  (Psalm 10:1). “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? (Psalm 13:1-2).

Stories of answered prayers, of successful surgery, of cancer cured, of health restored, of protection and safety in storm or threatening violence, are wonderful stories to read and hear. We rejoice with the recipients of answered prayer and praise God for His intervention and help.

However, there are times when sincere and fervent prayers are not answered, as we would desire, and we are left feeling alone and unloved – forsaken – and we ask God, “why”?

We humans often ask this unanswerable question following a tragedy in our life or community. But at no time do we ask the question with more intensity and emotion than when a young, gifted adult is taken from us by death. And that question rises to its highest intensity of pain when that person happens to be our own child. Not only is the present relationship taken from us, but also the future is emptied of dreams and expectations.

Warren Wiersbe once said, “Nothing is harder to heal than a broken heart shattered by experiences that seem so meaningless. But God’s people don’t live on explanations; God’s people live on His promises.”  I have found this to be so true.

Biblical reasons that attempt to explain the “whys”behind grief’s suffering usually do not ease the pain when you are hurting. In fact, such attempts may actually add to the pain.

It is the promises of God that encourage and reassure those who feel alone and forsaken. For the promises of God point to the loving, compassionate, “present with us” character of God and the One who sits with us in our pain.

The story is told of a little girl who got home unusually late from school one evening, only to find a daddy who was very unhappy about her lateness. He asked his little girl why she was late. She said, “Because my friend broke her dolly.”               

Her daddy then said, “Oh, okay, so you stayed with her to fix it?”  He did not expect her gentle reply, “No, Daddy, I stayed with her to help her cry.”

Can we imagine Jesus sitting with us in our anguished crying? I hope so.

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – February 6, 2024 – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – Ray M. Geigley

Not only does Christian HOPE overcome difficult and painful experiences, as expressed in last week’s blog, but HOPE also can and should overflow from us, as expressed by the psalmist David, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” (Psalm 23:5-6).

Paul concludes his theological letter to the Romans with this benediction in 15:13; “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

I fondly remember happily singing the children’s song, “Running over, running over; My cup is full and running over. Since the Lord saved me, I am happy as can be; My cup is full and running over.”

Christian hopefulness is rooted in a belief that there is purposeful movement in history towards a future filled with meaning. However, such “good news” is falling on ears deafen by the loud social media noises of twisted, deceptive understandings of biblical texts to amplify and attract the masses for political gain.

In chapter 3 of “FULLY ENGAGED – Missional in an Anabaptist Voice” (Herald Press, 2015), Alan Kreider suggests four things in our church history that have made it so hard to talk about our faith with each other and with non-Christians. They are Christendom, Mennonite Christendoms, the Enlightenment, and Postmodernity. And I would add “Christian Nationalism” as an increasing threat, derailing many with its intoxicating marriage of church and state.

After an interesting review of these influences, Alan states that a way forward for us Mennonites is to reconfigure the way we speak the good news.

“Conventional panaceas lead to despair, but the way of Christ leads Christians to “overflow with hope.”  And the presence of hope always elicits questions. The New Testament writers do not tell their readers to “evangelize” others. They tell them to live with hope. And if we have hope, and express that hope in deviant behavior, people will ask questions that lead to testimony. Peter puts this in classic form when he writes, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Pt. 3:15).  If we act hopefully, people want to know why.”

Yes, how we live matters. What we believe determines how we live. And our choices in daily living, worship, and work speak. I am told that Nelson Mandela repeatedly said, “May your choices reflect your hope, not your fears.”

As children of God’s family, we have been given His gift of hope – an unmerited, unique opportunity to share in God’s triumphant glory and eternal life. What a gift of purpose and hope! What an amazing gift of love! What a reason to rejoice!

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – January 24, 2024

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

“In the darkness, see the LIGHT. In the stillness, hear the SHOUT, “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the nations.” Be amazed, and sing “To us a child of hope is born, to us a son is giv’n.”

With these words, I concluded my last blog, encouraging us to make this “good news” story our story for the new year of 2024. And this past Monday we remembered Rev. Martin Luther King, a pastor-prophet who believed, lived, and boldly preached this HOPE that the child Jesus brought into our world.

And, in remembrance of his Christian witness, we sang together the powerful words of HOPE that he inspired in us; “We shall overcome, we shall overcome, we shall overcome some-day! Oh, deep in my heart I do believe – we shall overcome some-day.” And verse two, “We’ll walk hand in hand … some-day!” Followed byverse three, “We shall live in peace … some-day!”

These events stirred my thoughts to remember Jesus, the adult “child of hope” saying to his disciples and us, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).

During my years of experience as pastor-chaplain I have seen and felt the important life-giving role that Christian HOPE offers us in times of difficulty and grief. I would often say to others that we need “hope to cope” during such times. But now I say that a Christian HOPE-filled response to the pains of troubles and disappointments, offers us more than just “coping” energy. Rather, it is a HOPE that “overcomes” our experiences of darkness, dangers, and death; bringing healing to the deep wounds of grief.

This HOPE is grounded in Jesus’ death and resurrection. This HOPE is a divine gift which energizes and enables us to envision possibility, “a way through” that shapes our responses in any and every difficult, threatening circumstance or situation. This HOPE assures that “We shall overcome!”

This HOPE is not “wishful thinking” as in “I hope it doesn’t rain on our vacation,” which is a most popular use of this word.And neither is this HOPE “reasonable expectation” as when the doctor says to family members, “We have every reason to hope for full recovery” following surgical treatment to the patient. The doctor’s use of the word “hope” is based on and limited to the doctor’s past experiences.

Whereas, the “HOPE” we hear expressed by the biblical writers, is a dynamic word of confident assurance in a promised future of eternal life with our glorious, gracious God. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Yes, we will be the recipients in God’s glorious triumph in overcoming the darkness of sin and death. This is the strong, overcoming, and certain hope that God has given us in Jesus’ death and resurrection.

The writer of Hebrews tells us that our faith rests on this HOPE. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1). What an amazing gift of love! What a reason to rejoice!

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – January 17, 2024

www.geigler13.wordpress.com – Ray M. Geigley

Once again, we have closed out the year by gathering with the shepherds and angels around the stable manger, giving worship to the baby born to us. And once again we remain wrapped in a world of darkness and hopeless despair.

I wonder as I wander back through these past few weeks, did I see and feel the terrifying LIGHT of the Lord’s presence and glory? In the stillness of the dark night did I really hear the angel’s SHOUT, “Today … a Savior has been born to you.”  What was the depth of my amazement as I gazed at the baby in Mary’s embrace? How much emotion was expressed in my singing “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!”

Did I at least try to feebly feel the euphoria of renewed HOPE that this baby birthed in the hearts of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, Simeon, Anna, and all who heard the news? The long wait for this promised Savior had been painful and many had lost all HOPE. But now the angel’s “good news” rekindled the dying embers of HOPE within them, and they were joyfully amazed that God had not forgotten his promise to them.

The song, “To Us a Child of Hope Is Born” is an appropriate and perfect song for these first days of a new year. Listen carefully to its “good news” message and believe its promises for today’s darkness.

  1.      To us a child of hope is born, to us a son is giv’n.

            Him shall the tribes of earth o-bey, him all the hosts of heav’n,

            him shall the tribes of earth o-bey, him all the hosts of heav’n.

   2.      His name shall be the Prince of peace, for-ev-er-more a-dored,

            the Won-der-ful, the Coun-se-lor, the great and might-y Lord,

            the Won-der-ful, the Coun-se-lor, the great and might-y Lord.

   3.      His pow’r, in-creas-ing, still shall spread, his reign no end shall know.

            Jus-tice shall guard his throne a-bove, and peace a-bound be-low,

            jus-tice shall guard his throne a-bove, and peace a-bound be-low.

God’s gift of HOPE given us in Jesus’ birth, is a vibrant vision of possibilities that encourages us to live forward from where we are. In times of trouble and despair, this HOPE provides “a way forward” toward a Godly destiny of “justice” and “peace” worthy of our endurance. This HOPE is the energy that gets us out of bed in the morning and shapes our activity for the day. It also helps us to sleep well at night, knowing that we are lovingly protected and provided for by this child of HOPE, named Jesus.

In both church and non-church conversations I hear a lot of despair being spoken. The daily news is mostly painful and ugly, and the year 2024 looks to be dangerously worse. For many people, of all nationalities, religious beliefs, and political preferences, there seems to be little hope for any “good news” to happen.

However, as children of God’s family, we are given the unmerited gift of HOPE, which propels us forward, joyfully sharing in God’s “with us” peace and triumphant glory. What an amazing gift of love! What a reason to rejoice!

In the darkness, see the LIGHT. In the stillness, hear the SHOUT, “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”  Be amazed, and sing “To us a child of hope is born, to us a son is giv’n.” 

Yes, let us make the “good news” story our story for the new year of 2024. And maybe our neighbors and friends will take notice … be amazed … changed … and join with us in singing the song of HOPE.

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – January 3, 2024

www.geigler13.wordpress.com – Ray M. Geigley

I love listening to and joining in singing the many joyful, glorious hymns of Christmas. And

“Joy to the world” is one of my favorite carols. It is also one of the most sung hymns during the Christmas season. Why? Possibly because its message and melody echoes the ecstatic joy that Jesus’ birth brought into the world.

For many centuries God’s people yearned for the realization of the prophets’ promise that God would come and reveal Himself as their messiah. And then it happened during one dark night in a Bethlehem stable. The angels announced the “good news of great joy” that “a Savior has been born to you” and the shepherds rushed to town to confirm it.

Isaac Watts joyfully echoed the angel’s message in poetry and George Frederick Handel set those words to music:  Joy to the world!  the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room, And heav’n and nature sing. He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove, The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love.

We annually celebrate that wondrous event with joy-filled music and storytelling. But why is that joy so short-lived? Why does the darkness of hopelessness and pain so quickly overshadow and diminish our joy? Could it be that our joy is not rightly birthed?

Or could it be because the beautiful melody has distracted our attention away from its instructions regarding how to experience this promised JOY, that is, “Let every heart prepare Him room.”

Many times, in past years, I have enjoyed singing with my children, “I have the joy, joy, joy, down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart; I have the joy, joy, joy, down in my heart to stay.”

To enjoy the joyful music and glorious pageantry of Christmas worship and giftings, celebrating the birth of Jesus into our world, is a wonderful brief interlude in a world of darkness. But much more wonderful and life-changing is to experience the birth of Jesus into our heart, mind, and body. This personal experience of Jesus’ birth is transformational and enduring, whereas simply enjoying the various celebrations of Jesus’ birth is only palliative sedative for a few days.

For that reason, CHRISTMAS is about more than just lights, trees, and presents. CHRISTMAS is about God coming down to earth to do something about our sinfulness, our failures, and our fears. CHRISTMAS is about God’s answer to our brokenness. He comes to forgive, heal, and restore us to wholeness. He comes to be birthed into our hearts; to be King in and through us.

Whenever darkness and fears begin to seep into your thoughts and spirit during the days following the Christmas gifting celebrations, listen again to the gifting message of the heavenly angel, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Lk. 2:10-11).

Throughout the coming year, let the joyous singing of Christmas hymns and carols continue to echo in your heart and mind. Embrace and hold tightly God’s gift of love to you in Jesus, be bathed with his peace, feel his heartbeat of joy for you and sing; “Joy to the world! The Lord is come!”  AMEN!

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – December 27, 2023

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

Many of the events in the Christmas story include a journey. Some are physical journeys, and some are journeys of wonder, confusion, and of trust. It is Joseph’s journey of trusting God that has been most helpful in giving me confidence and guidance for my own life-journey.

In our annual Christmas story telling, it would appear that Joseph is only a peripheral figure in this glorious story. But in Matthew’s account of the story, Joseph plays an important and essential role in the series of miraculous events. (Matthew 1:18-25).

In verse nineteen we discover that the miracle of Christmas rested on Joseph’s shoulders as we await his hesitant decision to either accept or reject the stunning news of the coming Messiah, and the shocking way in which he would come into the world.

If the Godly righteous and compassionate Joseph had carried through with his plans, not only would the child, Jesus, have been illegitimate in the eyes of his culture, he would have been without the validity of a Davidic heritage as declared in the prophetic promise of the Messiah.

Verse 24 reveals Joseph’s most praiseworthy characteristic, which we see in his acceptance of and obedience to God’s word to him. Enabled by his faith to believe the promptings of God’s Spirit, he trusted the angelic visions and messages regarding God’s gracious plan of coming into the world in human flesh and form.

From the moment Joseph first learned of Mary’s pregnancy, he traveled a difficult emotional journey of extreme feelings; a questioning, wondering journey of how, why, when, who, and what child is this.

To fully appreciate Joseph’s journey of trusting God, we should remember that for him to accept what God told him, meant going through days of anguish and heartbreak. It meant his dreams would be dashed. It meant setting aside his own desires and rights to claim his wife as his own, living with her in celibacy until the birth of the child. It meant accepting, caring for, and loving a child whose origins and future he was not sure he understood. And it meant giving the child a name unrelated to his own.

Yes, it was a perilous journey, weaving between trust and doubt, threading around pits of anger and frustration, fighting disappointment and heartbreak. Nothing happened the way Joseph had dreamed and planned it would. Not the wedding, nor the public approval and celebration. All his dreams were dashed to dust, but there emerged, with his continuing trust in God’s involvement, something much bigger and more wondrous than Joseph could ever had imagined.

Joseph was told to name the child “…Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (v.21). Jesus means “God saves.” The scriptures also say, “They will call him Emmanuel, …which means God with us.”

Whatever else we may say about Joseph, we should never overlook the truth that he was a man of confidence in God’s trustworthiness. His strength, compassion, wisdom, and courage all flowed from his constant, steady faith in God’s presence with him, and in God’s power to work all things for his good.

This is why I think Joseph’s journey of trusting the God of Christmas is at the very heart of the Christmas story. His experience with things going awry and turning out so differently from what he expected, is so much like our own life experiences. And his journey helps us hear and believe the possibility of our own difficult journey connecting with the good news of the Christmas story.

This Christmas, as we marvel at Mary’s quiet calm, admire the faith of the Magi, share in the excitement of the shepherds, let us also take a long, soul-searching look at the quiet strength of Joseph trusting faith. And let us remember that as Joseph was obedient to the angel’s message and named the child, Jesus, so may each of us do the same.

“Today…a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.”  Name him “Jesus” and trust him to be “Emmanuel” in your life-journey.

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – December 20, 2023

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley