(Jeremiah 23:5-8, Psalms 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19, Matthew 1:18-25)
We read in today’s Gospel that Joseph was a “righteous man”; however, have we stopped to ponder what this means and more importantly, what this means in light of his relationship to the birth of Jesus? To begin, righteousness, also called justice, is one of the cardinal virtues. We need these virtues if we are to live a good life. The cardinal virtues are a gift from God, and like any gift, we can choose to accept them or we can reject them. Obviously Joseph choose to accept this gift. When chosen, justice, properly orientates us so that we are profoundly concerned about the rights of others and we are driven to do the right thing. We are innately loving and kind towards others as we see others through the lens of brotherly love and compassion. In light of this, we can understand how Joseph, when he learned of Mary’s pregnancy, immediately sought to do what was right as revealed by his unwillingness to expose Mary to shame – which quite possible would have led to her death or permanent exclusion from the community.
Joseph was an amazing man who, undoubtedly, possessed the other cardinal virtues as well (prudence, temperance, and fortitude). If he was not such a virtuous man I doubt he would have been able to hear the angel’s message, let alone follow the angels instructions to take Mary into his home, protect her, and care for her and her Son. How else would he have been able to raise Jesus in accordance to God’s plan if he did not willingly receive and incorporate the virtues? What’s even more amazing is the fact that Joseph did all this in light of the fact that he was born with the stain of original sin. He struggled with sin, yet he kept his eyes fixed on God, and I doing so, he was chosen to be the step father to our Lord Jesus Christ. He would be the first to hold Mary’s son, and the first to witness the bond of Mother and Child. What an amazing gift for this righteous man!
Of course Mary, the Immaculate Conception, was prepared from her conception to be the mother of God. Mary’s body had to be a pure temple for God to enter into. After all, God couldn’t enter a body where the stain of original sin existed; nor could He share DNA, blood, or any other bodily essence with a sinful body. Yet Mary, so pure and virtuous, was betrothed to Joseph and this makes Joseph all the more fascinating to me. What type of man he must have been to have been selected for Mary! The only sinner chosen to live such an intimate life with the Blessed Mother and Jesus.
The world today is in need of Josephs; men who will protect and provide for their families, men who will be great father’s, step fathers, grandfathers, uncles, role models, and mentors to children who need protection and provision. The world needs men who say yes to God when He offers the cardinal virtues, and men who will lead others to Christ so that great multitudes may come to know His saving power. Joseph understood Jesus’ greatness, he knew Mary’s Son would save the people from their sins.
In this day and age, in a world full of broken homes and hurting children, who better to ask for intercession then the one man who intimately knows the Savior, the one man who understands the burden of original sin and the one man who was chosen to be the earthly protector and provider for Mary and her Son. Joseph understands our pain and he also understands justice. Today’s Psalm tells us “justice shall flourish in his (God’s) time, and fullness of peace forever”. While none of us know when this time will be, we know it is coming.
Our first reading offers a great promise. A righteous shoot to David will rise, a king, and the people shall say that all descendants (not just the children of Israel) shall live again on their own land. The promise of a new life, a life in Christ is again revealed to us today in scripture. A life where our king governs with justice, where he rescues the poor and afflicted, where he has pity on the lowly and where he does wondrous deeds. The King has been born, his promise has been kept and Joseph was a faithful servant who humbled himself before God. Thank you Joseph for your “yes”.
Saint Joseph – pray for us!
