B1 - E2 Joseph's Story
As Joachim walked through the village, his mind was full of all that he had to tell his friend. Joseph was such a good man, known and respected throughout the area, not just as the carpenter, his work tried and tested, but as a thoroughly decent and well-liked person. How would he take the news that Joachim was bringing? What would he decide to do? Joachim prayed earnestly that God would help him to find the right words to best convey what had happened.
He knocked and entered Joseph's house and was greeted by a ready smile and an invitation to come and sit down. The two men exchanged a few words then Joachim began to explain why he had come, describing the events of the day in all their detail. At first, Joseph was stunned and silent as he tried to comprehend the information with all its implications.
Joachim understood that he needed time and privacy to take in and come to terms with the news. After a brief parting, he returned home with a heart full of compassion and concern for his friend. Joseph sat for a long while, wrestling with the situation, trying to think what he could do to save Mary from disgrace, knowing that, no matter what, he would always love her.
Finally, he fell asleep, deeply troubled in both heart and mind. As he slept, an angel appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife because the child she is expecting has been conceived by God’s power. She will give birth to a son who will be the Saviour of all people and you are to name him, Jesus."
Having fallen asleep with a heavy heart, he awoke overjoyed by the words of the angel. Everything had fallen into place. He had been entrusted by God with the precious task of caring for Mary and her baby, the child who would grow up to be the long-awaited Messiah. The very name Jesus meant Saviour and it was he who had been chosen to name him and to bring him up as his own son. This would be the greatest privilege of his life.
His first task was to visit Mary and her parents to reassure them and to plan for his and Mary’s future. He went to their house immediately and spoke to Anne and Joachim first. They were relieved and overjoyed in equal measure. Anne went to tell Mary while Joseph and Joachim talked everything through. Mary and Joseph then spent some time together, sharing their love and joy.
It was decided that Joseph and Joachim would visit the priest to arrange the wedding while Anne and Mary made plans for a simple celebration after the ceremony. So within a very short space of time, Mary and Joseph were married. Joseph was the most grateful man on earth as he took his beloved wife to her new home. Their joy was shared by her parents, knowing that their daughter and her child, God's Son, and their grandchild, could have no better carer and protector in the world than Joseph, their friend, and now, their son-in-law.
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