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Matthew 1: 16-24
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.
Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Today’s Gospel provides some of the clearest insight we have into the heart of Saint Joseph.
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The passage begins with shock. Mary, Joseph’s bride-to-be, is found with child and Joseph knows he is not the father. Imagine his immediate reaction, that the woman whom he loved and trusted has seemingly betrayed him.
Though virtuous, Joseph was only human. I’d imagine after hearing the news, he cried out to God as so many of us would: “God, how could you allow this to happen? Do I not pray to you in the Temple? Do I not offer sacrifice? Do I not follow your commands?”
After the initial shock settles, we see Joseph’s virtue emerge. Although the Law permits him to have Mary stoned, he decides not to expose her to public shame, rather to divorce her quietly.
Such a gentle dismissal of his bride-to-be reveals the compassion and gentleness of a man who has yet to understand God’s plan.
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Once that plan is revealed, however, we see a deeper dimension of his heart.
An angel appears to Joseph in a dream, assuring him that Mary has not been unfaithful, that his future has not been ruined, and that his marriage can proceed, only on terms that he had never imagined.
Suddenly, the darkness breaks.
This doesn’t mean that Joseph understands the depths of God’s plans – he must’ve had a thousand different questions. But he doesn’t require perfect clarity to assent to God’s will.
So, he takes Mary and the Christ-child into his home, revealing that Joseph is a man of faith and surrender.
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Which of Joseph’s virtues do I try to practice daily? Or which of them is God calling me to practice in my own family or ministry?
Is it the virtue of compassion? Gentleness? Faith? Or surrender?
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May the Holy Spirit soften our hearts to become more like Joseph, who welcomed Christ into his life, then followed him wholeheartedly.
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Image credits: (1) Saint Coleman Catholic Church (2) The Chaste Heart of Saint Joseph, Giovanni Gasparo (3) The Dream of Saint Jospeh, Phillipe de Champaigne, National Gallery London