Tag Archives: Joseph

Verse – In the Stable

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The shame that old man Joseph felt
in taking Mary to the barn
was mainly that, of course, it smelt:
it reeked with sheep shit, donkey dung,
and cattle plops. The widower
knew wives who whelped were never clean
themselves until the midwives pour
the well water over their loins
and legs, wash front and back. His first
young wife had died in giving birth
to their third child. He shook his fist
at heaven as she lay in filth
and breathed no more. Sweet Mary mild,
step-mother, virgin, pushed and smiled…

– Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, Dec. 24, 2014

The Angel Announcements

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Not like Barocci’s kneeling pink-cheeked girl

(who’d be afraid of her?) with white lace wings

that gazes up at Mary with a smile…  

 

No, warrior Gabriel had frightened kings

and generals when he appeared:  “Fear not!”

had been his necessary words to all.

 

More likely it was Mary fell prostrate

as holy light threw shadows on the wall,

and words that she was blest and would give birth

 

without knowing a man clouded her mind.

To Joseph came the same confounding truth:

an angel in a dream said he would find

 

her pregnant without sex.  The angel’s word

from God caused them to accept the absurd.

– Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, December 27, 2012

2012 NRA Christmas Message – Part 2

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Angels and Shepherds

Angels announcing good news to the shepherds.

Gospel according to Luke 2:8-14, Revised Version, NRA Bible:

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them,

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is announced this day the gift of armed guards in every school. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find Joseph standing guard over an innocent child in Bethlehem.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

“Glory to guns in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men.”

NRA angel announcing, Fear not, I bring you good tidings!

” Fear not, I bring you good tidings of great joy! – NRA Christmas Message, December 21, 2012

Just Joseph

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My children have had children, yet this week

this widower may take a teenager

to be a wife.  Her family did not seek

a younger, handsome  man.  A carpenter

I am, not an Adonis– I worship

just Adonai, and follow in the way

of Torah,  righteousness.

…

Did Mary slip

from  following the way, from purity?

She is with child, yet I have had a dream

like Joseph did of old:  an angel said

I should not fear to wed though it may seem

absurd.  The child in her has been conceived

by holy spirit, not by sex.  His name

should be Emmanuel, yes, God with us,

for he will save his people from their sins.

,,,

I will take Mary for my wife; Jesus

will be his name.  God can speak in a dream.

– Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, Dec. 4, 2012