Frank Sinatra’s My Way
(Isa.7:10-14; Rom.1:1-7; Mt.1.18-24)
Many people love Frank Sinatra’s song ‘My Way.’ It has been called one of the greatest anthems of the 20th Century.
It tells the story of a man who is strong and determined, and proud to have carved his own way through life:
‘I did what I had to do, and saw it through without exemption… I faced it all and I stood tall, and did it my way.’
Our society prizes such independence and control. But if you listen carefully, you might find a trace of sadness and maybe even loneliness in it. The last line says, ‘The record shows I took the blows, and did it my way.’
He’s alone at the end. There’s no sense of communion or grace, or of belonging to something greater than himself. Just doing my own thing my way.
Today’s Gospel shows us a very different kind of strength. St Joseph is planning to live a quiet and steady life with his new wife, Mary. But his world is shattered when he discovers that Mary is expecting a child not his own. He is devastated. To save his dignity and avoid scandal, he decides to divorce her quietly. That’s his way.
Then in a dream the angel Gabriel comes to him, saying: ‘… don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife… what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.’
When Joseph wakes up, he does something remarkable: he abandons his way and accepts God’s way, without any conditions or complaints. Just simple obedience, trust, and love. He agrees to take Mary into his home and to love her and her son.
In that moment, Joseph shows us what Advent faith looks like. It’s not loud or self-promoting. It doesn’t say, ‘I’ll do it my way.’ It says, ‘Lord, let it be done to me according to your word’ (Lk.1:38).
Here, Joseph joins Mary in a song that’s far more meaningful than any anthem of pride. This is the quiet harmony of those who truly trust God, and it’s sung by every disciple who learns that God’s way is always the road to peace and fulfilment.
Of course, the struggle between my way and God’s way isn’t just Joseph’s story; it’s the story of every human heart. We all love to follow our own agenda.
St Paul was no different. He was passionate about his version of right and wrong. But when he meets Jesus on the road to Damascus, he completely surrenders and becomes one of Jesus’ greatest apostles (Acts 9).
St Francis of Assisi, too, was a proud young man with dreams of knighthood and glory. But after encountering the crucified Christ, he renounces his wealth and chooses a life of poverty and simplicity.
St Thomas More faced enormous pressure from Henry VIII to ignore his conscience and do the king’s bidding. He could have taken the easy path, but instead he remained true to God’s way of truth. Just before his execution, St Thomas More said, ‘I die the King’s good servant, but God’s first.’
And then there’s the ultimate ‘my way’ story – the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk.15). The younger son takes his share of his father’s estate, and loses it all. He admits his mistake and expects to be punished, but his Father embraces him instead. In the end, we see the victory of God’s way of mercy over the human way of pride.
If we’re honest, we’ll all admit that we like to do things ‘my way.’ But life, and faith, often lead us into situations we never planned, like sickness, disappointment, challenge and change.
And in those moments, we discover that ‘my way’ cannot save us. Only God’s way can. That’s what Advent invites us to learn: to stop grasping, and to trust. To make space for God to make a difference in our lives.
To say, like Joseph, ‘Not my way, Lord, but yours.’
According to his daughter Tina, Frank Sinatra came to hate singing ‘My Way’. Although it was a popular song, he thought it was too boastful and self-indulgent, and did not reflect his loving heart or essential humility.
As Advent draws to a close, this is a good time to ask yourself: Where am I still clinging to my way? Is it holding me back?
And where do I need to make room for God’s way?
When we truly let go and trust God as St Joseph did, we make space for Jesus’ birth not only in Bethlehem, but also in ourselves.