This Advent season, we can learn a lot from Joseph the dreamer, the husband of Mary.
Joseph was most likely a carpenter who learned his trade from his father, who had learned it from his father before him. He had been living in Nazareth for his whole life, and it was a small town, so he knew almost everyone. After he and Mary became formally engaged, they began planning their lives together. It was a joyful time for them.
Then Joseph’s whole world fell apart. Mary told him an incredible story of a visit from an angel, telling her she was chosen to bear the Son of God.
Joseph decided to treat her gently. He agreed to divorce her quietly.
A few nights later, in a dream, an angel appeared to Joseph, and told him exactly what Mary had said: that the child she was carrying was of the Holy Spirit, and a son would be born. They were to name him Jesus — because he would save his people from their sins. And so it would be. Joseph decided to set things right.
Sometimes God’s plan is revealed to us in our dreams, in a still, small voice. God’s purpose for each of us may not be the largest role. But each of us has his or her own unique part to play in the divine plan of God. It might seem that our role is thankless or that nobody cares. We may not fully know what part we’re meant to play.
But God has dreams for each of us. And if we set aside our own plans and find a place of quiet — if we have faith and courage enough to listen — we will hear and obey and follow the voices of the angels in our dreams. And then the will of God can be done.
