Show Notes
What does quiet faith look like in a world full of noise—especially during the Christmas season?
In this episode of Formed for Faithfulness, we turn to Matthew 1 and the story of Joseph, a man whose actions quietly shaped the greatest story ever told. As we reflect on his role, we consider how Christians today can navigate a culture obsessed with opinions, commentary, and constant debate.
During this fourth week of Advent, we explore how small, faithful choices in everyday life can have lasting impact—without the need for attention or public recognition. This episode invites listeners to think about what it means to live out God’s calling in a noisy world and how silent witness can make a difference in ways words often cannot.
Nuance’s Formed for Faithfulness is a weekly liturgy to encourage all of us to be faithful to Christ in the public square. Join Case Thorp and other guests as they follow the Church calendar through the reading of Scripture, prayer, and short reflections on faith in all facets of public life.
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Episode Transcript
We all know that Jesus likely was not actually born on December 25, but it’s fitting that close to the shortest day–that is, darkest day of the year–we celebrate the birth of the light of the world. Welcome to Formed for Faithfulness in this fourth week of Advent.
And now a reading from the Gospel of Matthew 1:18-25.
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.
Back when people still read the printed newspaper over breakfast, a political cartoonist defined his role thus: “I have an opinion, and you are entitled to it.” That attitude has never been truer than in this digital day and age, when everyone is free to tell the world just what they think about anything and everything—and many apparently feel like they have a duty to do so. What a sharp contrast we see in one of the characters at the center of part of the greatest story ever told. It’s not surprising that Joseph isn’t quoted directly in the Bible because he seems to have been a man of few words. Rather than draw attention to himself, Joseph appears to have been content to simply do the right thing and leave others to make all the noise. When first confronted by what seems to him to be betrayal, rather than cause a scene, he decides to disentangle from Mary quietly. And when he discovers God is in this unlikely situation, he accepts the snickering and finger-pointing that no doubt followed Mary’s pregnancy. Actions can speak louder than words—maybe especially when words are so cheap and plentiful. We don’t need to get drawn into every debate and disagreement. We don’t have to have a public opinion on every issue. We don’t have to comment on every post. We can just read and move on. We all know that so much of today’s cultural and political discourse and social media interaction generates a lot of heat but little light. As part of the body of Christ, perhaps our silent witness of the way of obedience to God’s calling can, like Joseph, play a part in the ongoing work of Christ to reach a noisy and broken world.
A reading from Hebrews 10:5-10:
5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
6
with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.
7
Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, my God.’”
8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Would you pray with me?
Father God, you entrusted your Son to Joseph’s care. Give us hearts like his—quiet enough to hear your voice, quick to obey when you speak, courageous in uncertainty, faithful in small things. May we be content to follow your leading without needing to denounce others or defend ourselves. Help us to grow in a love that serves without spotlight, keeps its promises and chooses the lower place. May we be content to be unseen, knowing you see, and may your true light shine through us into a darkened world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
A reading from the prophet, Micah, chapter 5 verses 2 to the first half of verse 5:
2
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.”
3
Therefore Israel will be abandoned
until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,
and the rest of his brothers return
to join the Israelites.
4
He will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.
5
And he will be our peace
when the Assyrians invade our land
and march through our fortresses.
We will raise against them seven shepherds,
even eight commanders
