God is with Us

Advent is almost over. The road has narrowed, the waiting has deepened, and today the Church places before us not a manger, not angels, not shepherds—but a man standing quietly at the edge of a mystery too big for words. His name is Joseph.

Joseph is not the center of attention, yet the entire story could collapse without him. He stands between promise and scandal, between God’s plan and human misunderstanding. He is engaged to Mary, and suddenly everything changes. She is with child, and the child is not his. No explanation could make this easy. No theology could remove the ache. Joseph is righteous, Scripture tells us—not rigid, not loud, not cruel, but righteous. And righteousness, in this case, looks like compassion. He chooses not to expose Mary to shame. He chooses mercy over self-justification. He chooses silence over spectacle.

Joseph teaches us that faith is not always about understanding. Sometimes faith is simply deciding not to walk away when things no longer make sense.

How many of us are standing where Joseph stood—caught between what we planned and what is happening? How many are quietly wrestling with disappointment, unanswered questions, or a future that feels unclear? Advent does not promise clarity. It promises presence. Emmanuel. God with us—not after everything is resolved, but right in the middle of it.

As we stand at the threshold of Christmas, Joseph invites us to make room—not just in our homes, but in our hearts. Room for a God who comes quietly. Room for a plan that may not match ours. Room for grace that enters through obedience.

Advent ends with a man who says yes without speaking, and a God who comes close without forcing his way in. This is how salvation begins. This is how Emmanuel still comes.

May we, like Joseph, not be afraid to welcome God into the unexpected places of our lives.