The Fourth Sunday in Advent turns to the story of Joseph who is told in a dream not to be afraid to take Mary into his home even though she is expecting a child. This story hasn’t inspired as many great art woks as the Annunciation to Mary has. In fact, the most interesting picture I’ve ever seen of Joseph in the famous Merode Altarpiece (ca. 1427-32) where the central scene is the Annunciation to Mary. Joseph is depicted in a side panel where he is shown sitting at a carpenter’s work bench. Here’s a detail of the picture.

Joseph is busy boring holes in a piece of wood. I don’t know what he’s making, but there is a finished project on the table among the tools. What is that wooden contraption? It’s a 15th century mousetrap. A mousetrap! Why would the artist include a mousetrap?

There’s some intriguing symbolism here. St. Augustine commented “the cross of the Lord was the devil’s mousetrap; the bait by which he was caught was the Lord’s death.” The mousetrap is a symbol for the cross which tricked the evil one. The devil thought crucifying Jesus would bring an end to God’s plans. Instead, it brought about people’s salvation and the devil’s defeat.

The message to Joseph was that Mary’s child would be called Jesus because he would save his people. This picture is a way of reminding us of that message.

There is so much in the stories leading to the birth of Jesus. May your meditations be Spirit-filled.

Read Matthew 1:18-25 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne