Blessed Joseph 

   “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.” (Matt 1: 20) 

   I would love to know more about Joseph.  Unfortunately, the gospels tell us very little about him.  He is briefly mentioned by Matthew and Luke in the in the incarnation narrative.  Matthew also mentions him in the flight to Egypt and the return.  But his name never again appears in scripture.  He was there at the presentation, and when Jesus was found in the temple, but he wasn’t mentioned by name, only Mary.

   He was obviously a compassionate man.  When he discovered that Mary was pregnant he chose to quietly divorce her and send her away.  He could have accused her of adultery before the high priest and she would have been stoned to death.  At the word of the angel he readily took Mary into his home and became the earthly father of the Messiah.

   He raised Jesus as his own, even though he knew that He was the Messiah.  He taught him a trade.  Jesus was a carpenter as was Joseph.  It is believed that he died before Jesus began His ministry.  While Mary and other relatives followed Him, Joseph is never mentioned among them.

   I look to Joseph as a tower of strength, a just but caring man.  There would have been rumor and speculation about the suddenness of Joseph’s taking Mary into his home and certainly about Jesus’ birth so soon afterwards.  He accepted His role in silence and service to our Lord.

   The love, strength, and compassion of Joseph is an ideal that all should strive to follow.  If there were more people like him in this world it would be a much better place. 

Lord, You chose Joseph.

He became Your earthly father.

He was a man of love and strength.

Make me more like Him. 

Amen