Festival of St. Joseph, Guardian of Jesus
Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a
16 Jacob [was] the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, who bore Jesus, who is called the Messiah.
18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do 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 as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 24a When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.
…but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit.
Often, when we’re walking through the park in the evening, we’ll pass a young family out for some exercise. Typically, Mom will have an infant in a stroller. Dad follows behind, carrying a sleeping toddler over his shoulder and a scooter or tricycle in his other hand. Those young fathers always remind me of Joseph.
I find Joseph to be an amazing example of righteousness, faith, and trust in God. Mary knows what she has and hasn’t done, and what is happening in her body. Joseph knows only what Mary (and later an angel in a dream) told him. Everything for Joseph is second hand. That takes a LOT of faith and trust to believe.
For me, Joseph is a stunning example of faith active in love. As a righteous man, he knows the Law and is prepared to follow it in ways that are pleasing to God. As a man of profound faith, he is willing to believe that God is doing something new, even when it defies even the laws of nature itself. As a loving man, Joseph is willing to support the woman he has chosen to be his wife, even when that brought shame and dishonor on himself.
Prayer: Lord God: Thank you for calling Joseph to be the gentle husband, loving father, and fierce protector that Mary and Jesus needed. Help me follow his example of radical faith, trust and love. AMEN