Is 7:10-14 / Rom 1:1-7 / Mt 1:18-24
A man went to his doctor, very upset about his health. "What's your problem?" asked the doctor.
"It's terrible!" said the patient. "When I look in the mirror every morning, I see thinning hair, sagging jowls, crooked teeth, and bloodshot eyes. I'm a mess! What is it?"
"I really don't know," said the doctor. "But the good news is: Your eyesight is perfect."
+ + +
Reality doesn't always match our hopes and dreams.
St. Joseph had hoped and dreamed a long time about the wonderful family he was going to make with Mary: Lots of children, and later on, grandchildren. Even the thought of it warmed his heart. And then, in a trice, it was gone. Mary was pregnant and he wasn't the father. The door to all his hopes slammed shut in his face.
But God opened another door. What lay beyond it was still invisible, but Joseph trusted God so thoroughly that he walked through that door anyway. There was no houseful of children on the other side, and not even one grandchild, but there was Jesus.
Imagine being a part of Jesus's life from His very first breath! Imagine watching over Him and being His guide as He grew into a young man! It was more than Joseph would ever have dreamed or hoped for. But none of it would have happened if He'd said "No" to God and refused to take that step into the dark unknown.
All too often, life confounds our hopes and expectations. Doors slam shut without warning. Our hopes wilt. We can't see what God sees — just the fog and the darkness. We're left with only one real choice: Run away, wither and die, or embrace the present. Walk into it, one step at a time, confident that God will help us see what He sees there, and find the good He's hidden there for us — when it's time.
Will we be ready for those mind-twisting, soul-wrenching moments when they come? Will we be ready to face the impenetrable fog and the crushing darkness? We will if we have the habit of walking with the Lord. We'll be ready if we have the habit of trusting Him, accepting the silence and waiting for Him without growing impatient or giving in to our fears.
The psalm tells us, "Be stout-hearted and wait for the Lord." It's good advice, because in His own good time, the Lord will show Himself and what has been hidden will be made clear. Trust that, and your soul will be at peace, even now!
