First Sunday after Christmas Day, December 30th, 2018
When my wife makes up her mind about something . . . . end of discussion . . . game over. I don't even waste my time saying anything else because when she makes up her mind about something . . . . she definitely makes up her mind. I suppose all of us are like that to a certain degree. When we set our mind on something. When we get focused on something. When we decide on something. When we get fixated on something. We say in our mind: "I'm going to do it." "This is how it's got to be." "There's no other choice." It's almost as if, yes, we have decided . . . we have made the decision already . . . . but then we have to convince ourselves . . . we have to talk ourselves into the decision that we've already made in our mind.
In the First Chapter of the Gospel of St. Matthew, we read about the decisions which St. Joseph had made concerning his relationship with Mary. In this First Chapter, St. Matthew tells us about the decision which St. Joseph has come to: "Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily." (St. Matthew 1:19) In other words, St. Joseph knew that something needed to be done. He knew that action needed to be taken. He knew that he would have to make a decision. I am sure that he had thought about the consequences in his mind. What would happen if we did "A." And what would happen if we did "B" But what about if we try to do "C"? If we place ourselves in the position of St. Joseph . . . . and Our Blessed Mother, for that matter, . . . . they were both placed in a very difficult position, weren't they? In essence, they were engaged but they were not married. And so St. Joseph came to a decision. But then the angel appeared to him: "But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream . . . " (St. Matthew 1:20)
How many times do we, like St. Joseph, make up our mind about an important decision? How many times do we, similar to St. Joseph, face very dire consequences which require a plan of action? How many times do we make up our minds and nothing can change our decision? St. Joseph had made his mind up. St. Joseph had studied the situation and had already come to a plan of action. But then the angel appeared to him in a dream. God spoke to St. Joseph through the angel. And St. Joseph listened to the angel. His mind may have been made up already . .. . but at least he listened to the angel. God may not always send an angel to speak to us like He did with St. Joseph but He will speak to us . . . . that is, if we listen. If we are open to listening. We have to be willing to listen, first and foremost. Next we have to be in a position to hear what God is speaking to us. Very often the sounds and noises of the world drown out what God is speaking to us. It is almost as if the world is intent on grabbing our attention away from God. We have to learn how to "tune out" the world as much as possible so that we can hear God speaking to us. Listen to God. Hear what God is saying to you. Always focus on what God would have you do in any given situation. Again, God may not send an angel to speak to you in a dream. But He will speak to you. If you just take the time to listen.
St. Margaret Church meets each and every Sunday morning at 9:30 AM. We worship at the beautiful Chapel at Marquette Manor, located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis. We use the King James Bible and the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. Come join us as we listen to God speak to us through His Word. At Communion time, we receive the Precious Body and Blood of Christ to nourish us and give us strength for our journey called life.
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