http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58DnxT54STU

Ralphie’s Dad is just about gushing over his son and that BB Gun! Did you catch the look in his eyes? Wide open love.

“I had one when I was eight years old.” He says. His expression says more: This isn’t about the rules. This is about father and son.

There’s a scene in the Joseph/Mary/Jesus story that looks like that. Mary is pregnant and Joseph isn’t the father but, by divine intervention, he chooses to stay with Mary and raise the child as his own. Nine months later he’s standing over a newborn baby… and the look in his eyes? Wide open love.

“This isn’t about the rules,” the scene says. “This is about father and son.” 

Below find the story as told in the Gospel of Matthew. Can you picture the look in God’s eyes?

Church, I beg you, don’t lose track of wide open love. After all, this is about Father and Son.

Matthew 1:18-25

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.