The second reading today is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans. By any measure Romans is a complex book with enough theological content to last a lifetime. But in our reading, taken from the opening chapter, there is a phrase, often overlooked, which captures the heart of the Christian life: “the obedience of faith” (Rom 1:5). The “obedience of faith.” It almost seems like a contradiction. Obedience can sound passive or forced – something from the exterior. Faith is something we associate with the interior life, but Paul joins them together. For St. Paul, faith is not merely believing certain truths. Obedience is not blind submission. The two acting together is to entrust one’s life to God so that our interior and exterior are in harmony with God’s will. In the gospel, St. Joseph is a living example of the obedience of faith.

Joseph is in a bit of a pickle. Somehow, he has come to know that Mary is with child and he knows he is not the father. From Joseph’s perspective, Mary’s pregnancy made no sense. The situation threatened his honor, his future, his reputation, and his understanding of God’s plan. Matthew then reveals something about Joseph’s character: “Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly” (Mt 1:19). That’s the plan anyway. It was not sinful. It was a plan that merged mercy and obedience to the Law. All things considered, it was a reasonable plan. Quietly stepping away seemed the most just and compassionate solution.

And yet—God interrupts Joseph’s good and reasonable plan with a greater one.

In a dream, the angel tells Joseph: “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home” (Mt 1:20). I think we are conditioned to react, “Huh…OK, an angel… don’t overthink this … I mean it’s an angel of the Lord and everything… just do it, just obey.”  But if we pause for a moment we might notice what the angel does not say. He does not explain everything. He does not promise it will be risk free, easy or even give a hint as to the next step beyond taking Mary into his household. But he does reveal a great plan in the works: This child is from the Holy Spirit. This child will save his people from their sins. 

And Joseph must decide whether to entrust his honor, future, and reputation to God’s plan. Will he entrust his life to God?

Matthew’s description of Joseph’s response is striking in its simplicity: “When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him” (Mt 1:24). There is no indication of questions, there is no bargaining, no conditions or stipulations. There is simply the obedience of faith.

Joseph surrenders control, not because he understands everything, but because he trusts the One who speaks. His obedience is not weakness. It is courage. It costs him security, reputation, and the comfort of certainty. But through that obedience, Joseph becomes guardian of the Redeemer and spouse of Mary.

Advent is not only preparation for Christmas; it is a season for us to learn about trust. Like Joseph, many of us enter Advent with our own plans, expectations, and hopes. We are regular people who want clarity before commitment. We want certainty before agreement or surrender. But Advent teaches us that God often asks for obedience before understanding.

What might the obedience of faith look like in our lives? It may look like:

• Trusting God when our plans fall apart.
• Choosing fidelity to our commitments when walking away seems easier.
• Accepting a responsibility we did not choose and might really rather avoid.
• Remaining faithful when the future is unclear and circumstances reveal an easier path.
• Saying “yes” to God without seeing the full picture, without bargaining, and despite our fears.

Faith does not eliminate fear. Faith acts despite those fears.

Joseph never utters a single word in Scripture, but his actions have a lot to say. A lot to teach us. He shows us that holiness often can be found in the quiet places, the hidden places, when good people act in faith when “reasonable” people caution and direct you to a safer path.

The lives of the Saints tell the stories of the obedience of faith. One day in an abandoned chapel outside Assisi, the Word of God came to St. Francis: “Rebuild my church.” He obeyed in faith. One night long ago in Nazareth, the salvation of the world entered history not only through Mary’s “yes”, but also through Joseph’s obedience.

Here in these final days of Advent, the Church invites us to ask where God is asking each one of us to trust Him more deeply. Sometimes that will ask us to name our fears (loss of honor, an uncertain future, etc.). Sometimes it asks us to let go of our reasonable and prudent plan in exchange for the unknown.

The readings remind us that we are called to a life lived in the obedience of faith.” Joseph shows us what that looks like in flesh and blood.

To live that life, we don’t have to have everything figured out, but we are asked to be ready to obey when God speaks. For when faith obeys, Christ is born anew in the world and in us.

Amen

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Image credit: Ceiling detail Battistero di San Giovanni | Florence | 13th century | photo by Marie-Lan Nguyen | Wikimedia Commons  | CC-BY 2.5