The Dream of St. Joseph by Anton Raphael Mengs, c. 1773
Help us to walk with Joseph
into the darkness,
the not knowing.
Having to marry the mystery
before everything else.
Surrendering all claim
to outcomes or knowledge of them,
committing to the love at hand,
and it was enough.
The very undoing that confounded him
was the love that found him.
The answer he sought was no answer,
but only presence,
this woman who also could not be afraid,
this child who could not be revealed
until after he said yes,
this God, who was not at the end of the journey
but his companion on the journey
and the dark road itself, Emmanuel.
We have to say yes
before anything, don’t we?
Joseph, walk with me.
after Steve Garnaas-Holmes, Methodist pastor in Massachusetts
_______________
Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.
prayer & verse 
