Pastor’s sermon is based on the Gospel reading from Matthew 1:18-25. Joseph does two things within this short and “not so sweet” gospel story. He names his grief and then, with the angel’s help, opens himself up to joy and possibility. Grief comes before joy in today’s Gospel story, and in so much of our lives. But the joy, hope, and possibility that comes is, in the end, more powerful even than the very real grief we name, because that joy is born of love… God’s love for each of us. In fact, the whole Christmas story tells not simply just how much God loves us, but just how far God was willing to go, so that we would hear, understand, and believe that good news. Thanks be to God!
