St. Joseph’s Day has always had a special place in my heart. He was my Grandpa’s favorite Saint for many reasons, but I think deep down my Grandpa, who was a man of few words, loved Joe because he doesn’t say one single thing in Scripture. This was a man after my Grandpa’s heart! I also went to an all-girls Catholic High School where the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet taught me and St. Joseph’s Day was our big day to celebrate. I loved St. Joseph’s Day so much, that I chose to get married on this day as well and that day remains one of the happiest of my life even though I am now divorced. March 19 is a significant day for me because it is centered on this mysterious character named Joseph. All that we know about him has been revealed in a few sweet little details given to us in the gospels, but they sure do paint the picture of a man with great integrity.
Life after the Annunciation must have been challenging to say the least. Middle Eastern culture was merciless toward women caught in scandal and Joseph’s betrothed would soon show signs of scandal as her miracle baby started to grow. I often imagine the scene when Mary shared the news of her encounter with the Angel Gabriel with Joseph. Based on the sweet little details about Joseph, I get the impression that Mary’s character was so beautiful, so noble, so pure, and so full of the Holy Spirit, that Joseph believed in her innocence and in her story, but based on the cultural norms/rules he felt backed into a corner to divorce her. Raise your hand if you’ve ever been backed into a corner because of a sensitive matter. We’ve all wrestled with loving someone through a “scandal” or a hard situation and unfortunately, this scandal had the potential to actually end in death. “Joseph, her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.” This is one of those sweet little details that reveal so much about the man who would raise the Savior of the world. He was unwilling to expose her to shame. I wonder if this influence on his adopted son had anything to do with how Jesus treated “the sinful woman” the day she washed his feet with her tears. Jesus was raised by a man who was unwilling to expose his mother to shame. His earthly father reflected the heart of his heavenly Father.
Today’s gospel is really Joseph’s Annunciation story: “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.” I can’t help but think that Mary’s fiat or yes to the angel is what helped Joseph also do as the angel of the Lord had commanded. Again Mary’s faithfulness activated Joseph’s faithfulness and together they said yes to the impossible, yes to love, yes to the Holy Spirit, and yes to the new covenant. This new covenant was signed with obedience and not rebellion, with humility and not pride, with righteousness and not wickedness, with honor and not shame. Mary led Joseph into right relationship with God and from that right relationship, Joseph fathered the Christ who would save you and me from our sins! Let’s recap the sweet little details we have learned about Joseph in today’s gospel: he was a righteous man, who was unwilling to expose her to shame, and when he awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded. And one last thing that struck me today: Joseph let his wife, a woman, inspire him to do the right thing. This was as bold and anti-cultural as you can get in his time and again a true reflection of our heavenly Father’s heart. Go go go Joseph!!
Let’s think about Joe today and how he was as an adopted dad to Jesus. What practical lessons would he have taught him? How did he teach him his trade in carpentry? What was his daily relationship like with Mary? What kind of character did he have to be chosen to live with the Immaculate Conception herself AND the only Son of God? Joseph’s story is a beautiful one to ponder. It is well with my soul.
Reading 1 2 SM 7:4-5A, 12-14A, 16
The LORD spoke to Nathan and said:
"Go, tell my servant David,
'When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors,
I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins,
and I will make his kingdom firm.
It is he who shall build a house for my name.
And I will make his royal throne firm forever.
I will be a father to him,
and he shall be a son to me.
Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me;
your throne shall stand firm forever.'"
"Go, tell my servant David,
'When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors,
I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins,
and I will make his kingdom firm.
It is he who shall build a house for my name.
And I will make his royal throne firm forever.
I will be a father to him,
and he shall be a son to me.
Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me;
your throne shall stand firm forever.'"
Responsorial Psalm PS 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 AND 29
R. (37) The son of David will live for ever.
The promises of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness,
For you have said, "My kindness is established forever";
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R. The son of David will live for ever.
"I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations."
R. The son of David will live for ever.
"He shall say of me, 'You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.'
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm."
R. The son of David will live for ever.
The promises of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness,
For you have said, "My kindness is established forever";
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R. The son of David will live for ever.
"I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations."
R. The son of David will live for ever.
"He shall say of me, 'You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.'
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm."
R. The son of David will live for ever.
Reading 2 ROM 4:13, 16-18, 22
Brothers and sisters:
It was not through the law
that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants
that he would inherit the world,
but through the righteousness that comes from faith.
For this reason, it depends on faith,
so that it may be a gift,
and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants,
not to those who only adhere to the law
but to those who follow the faith of Abraham,
who is the father of all of us, as it is written,
I have made you father of many nations.
He is our father in the sight of God,
in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead
and calls into being what does not exist.
He believed, hoping against hope,
that he would become the father of many nations,
according to what was said, Thus shall your descendants be.
That is why it was credited to him as righteousness.
they never cease to praise you.
It was not through the law
that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants
that he would inherit the world,
but through the righteousness that comes from faith.
For this reason, it depends on faith,
so that it may be a gift,
and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants,
not to those who only adhere to the law
but to those who follow the faith of Abraham,
who is the father of all of us, as it is written,
I have made you father of many nations.
He is our father in the sight of God,
in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead
and calls into being what does not exist.
He believed, hoping against hope,
that he would become the father of many nations,
according to what was said, Thus shall your descendants be.
That is why it was credited to him as righteousness.
Verse Before The Gospel PS 84:5
Blessed are those who dwell in your house, O Lord;they never cease to praise you.
GospeLMT 1:16, 18-21, 24A
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.
and when he was twelve years old,
they went up according to festival custom.
After they had completed its days, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem,
but his parents did not know it.
Thinking that he was in the caravan,
they journeyed for a day
and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
but not finding him,
they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions,
and all who heard him were astounded
at his understanding and his answers.
When his parents saw him,
they were astonished,
and his mother said to him,
“Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
And he said to them,
“Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
But they did not understand what he said to them.
He went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was obedient to them.
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.
Or LK 2:41-51A
Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,and when he was twelve years old,
they went up according to festival custom.
After they had completed its days, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem,
but his parents did not know it.
Thinking that he was in the caravan,
they journeyed for a day
and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
but not finding him,
they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions,
and all who heard him were astounded
at his understanding and his answers.
When his parents saw him,
they were astonished,
and his mother said to him,
“Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
And he said to them,
“Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
But they did not understand what he said to them.
He went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was obedient to them.
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