Dreams as Divine Revelation and Joseph's Compassionate Response

Key Quotes

"have you ever had a wild dream well it's rather fitting that we're closing our advent series our advent season with the theme of dreaming for those of you who have not been here through the entirety of the advent season or weren't here when we began let me share with you again why we're having this extended advent season the advent season we are practicing and observing may have been your first time doing an extended advent season it was mine and it was an invitation to experience a more ancient advent because likely this longer advent season was the way it was first practiced it wasn't shortened to four weeks ahead of christmas until the ninth or so century still took another one or two centuries past that before it was practiced more uniformly and even so in some traditions throughout the world some christian traditions there still is a longer advent season a season meant to reflect the same duration of preparation that we uh that we celebrate during lent ahead of easter the 40 days ahead of easter reflected into the advent season of preparation for the holy mystery of the incarnation god's life and love bearing human flesh and so in some traditions including the celtic tradition this longer advent season was observed a season of preparation a season of anticipation for the arrival of the christ child"

The speaker explains that the church is concluding its advent series with the theme of dreaming, which aligns with a more ancient practice of advent. This extended season, longer than the typical four weeks, is presented as a way to experience advent as it was originally observed, mirroring the 40-day preparation period of Lent leading up to Easter. The speaker highlights that this longer advent is a season of preparation and anticipation for the incarnation of Christ.

"one writer put it beautifully like this a thin place is where you can feel heaven like the breath of god on your neck with the sweet tender touch of a mother's hand thin places well it just so happens that one of the ways in the ancient world and in celtic spirituality as well one of these thin places or thin times is dreaming dreaming it's in dreaming that perhaps our unguarded mind our disarmed selves can receive something from beyond and so throughout scripture and throughout the celtic tradition particular attention was paid to dreams and dreaming"

The speaker introduces the concept of "thin places" from Celtic spirituality, describing them as locations where the divine presence is strongly felt. They then connect this idea to dreaming, suggesting that dreams represent another form of "thin time" or "thin place." The speaker posits that during dreams, our defenses are down, allowing us to potentially receive insights or messages from a divine source, a practice that holds significance in both scripture and Celtic tradition.

"in the 21st century if we have a if we have a dream if i have a dream we might see it through the lens of modern psychology we might see it through the lens of freud and jung who want to interpret our dreams and they may suggest something about our subconscious they may suggest something about our drives my my dream of showing up in class and not having my homework done may just reflect the fact that i have great anxieties about something who knows we could do all that armchair psychotherapy that's tends to be how we approach our dreams in the 21st century they reflect perhaps something about us and i think there's value and worth in paying attention to our dreams in the ancient world in the biblical imagination though dreams aren't just something that reveals something about ourselves individually no they are meant to give us a window a picture a touch point into the nature of reality itself"

The speaker contrasts contemporary approaches to dreams, often viewed through the lens of psychology and personal subconscious anxieties, with the perspective found in the ancient world and biblical imagination. While acknowledging the value of introspection, the speaker emphasizes that in older traditions, dreams were seen not just as reflections of the self, but as potential windows into the nature of reality itself. This suggests a broader, more externally focused interpretation of dream content.

"when joseph awoke from sleep he did as the angel of the lord commanded him he took mary as his wife but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son and he named him jesus"

This quote details Joseph's obedient response to the divine message received in his dream. The speaker highlights that Joseph followed the angel's instructions precisely, taking Mary as his wife and naming the child Jesus, while abstaining from marital relations until after the birth. This action demonstrates Joseph's faith and his willingness to act upon heavenly guidance.

"the justice of god is the mercy and compassion of god and joseph was just and so he did not seek to add injury or insult to this awful situation with mary no he was just going to divorce her quietly as he thought to himself this child changes everything"

The speaker interprets Joseph's character as "just" by linking it to divine justice, which they define as mercy and compassion. The speaker explains that Joseph's righteousness motivated him to handle the difficult situation with Mary by seeking a quiet divorce, rather than causing her further harm or disgrace. This illustrates Joseph's compassionate approach, driven by his understanding of justice.

"this child changes everything indeed it would cause joseph great risk he would have to have great courage he would have to endure the the questions and the wonderment from others he would have to treat this child that was not his as his own and love this child for all the world and release this child for all the world"

The speaker emphasizes the profound impact of the child, Jesus, on Joseph's life, stating that it "changes everything." The speaker details the significant personal challenges Joseph would face, including risk, the need for courage, enduring societal questions, and fully embracing the child as his own. This highlights the transformative and demanding nature of Joseph's commitment.