St. 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.  She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt 1: 20 – 21) 

   Not a single word of St. Joseph’s is recorded in the gospels.  I sometimes think we allow him to disappear into the silence of his life.  We forget that when God chose Mary to be the Mother of God, He also chose Joseph, her betrothed, to be her protector and the father and protector of our Lord and Savior.

   Joseph raised the Son of God as his own son.  He protected Him when Herod tried to kill Him, he taught Him carpentry, he taught Him to be a man.  Nothing is said of it in the gospels, but it would have been customary for Joseph to lead the family in prayer.  He would have seen to the religious education of Jesus as a Jew.  In other words, he did what any good father does for his Son, even with that Son is the Messiah.

   As an adoptive father, I feel a closeness to Joseph.  I imagine him holding the baby Jesus in his arms, loving Him, caring for Him.  When I held my adopted sons there was no difference in my heart as when I held my natural daughters.  Genetics make us parents; love is what makes us fathers.

   Joseph is a father that all should look to as the example of the love of a father for his children.  Joseph was blessed to be chosen to father the Son of God.  Fatherhood is always a blessing and those so blessed owe a tremendous debt to the Lord.   Let us love our children as Saint Joseph loved our Savior. 

Joseph was chosen to father the Messiah.

He loved, protected, and cared for Him.

May all fathers follow his example.

May we all look to him for guidance. 

Amen