Adam v. Joseph

We've all heard that Mary is the New Eve. We see her as different that Eve in many crucial ways (and rightly so). Mary said yes to God, Eve said no, etc... but they are similar to each other too for they were both in dangerous predicaments.

Eve faced temptation by the devil. She experienced a moment of weakness and doubt--and subsequent moments of shame and regret--that had and have huge consequences for mankind.

Mary was pregnant out of wedlock. She anticipated the scorn and abuse of her loved ones and friends who could not possibly understand the great thing the Lord had done.

How did their husbands react to their situations? Did they asist their wives or did they fail in their role as a husbands?

Adam stood by. He watched it happen. He didn't say, "Oh, don't eat that honey" or "hey, check out those oranges on that other tree". Instead he weakly imitated her in sin. Talk about a push-over...

Joseph, on the other hand, trusted Mary's account of the incarnation and stepped up to protect her from the possible evil that could befall her. He did not leave her to deal with it by herself, like so many husbands do nowadays. He didn't say, "This pregnancy is your problem. Fix it." He decided to wed her and pretend the child was from their union. He defended her when she was down. He turned a sticky situation into a beautiful act of self-sacrifice.

Who do you want to marry: an Adam or a Joseph?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAxlIbUTlZo

(p.s. Yes, this post was just an excuse to put this link on the blog :-) It's somewhat related, right?? )