SAINT JOSEPH, A FATHER IN PLACE OF THE FATHER


SOLEMNITY OF SAINT JOSEPH, HUSBAND OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

2 Sam 7:4-5,12-14,16; Ps 89:2-5,27,29; Rom 4:13,16-18,22; Mt 1:16,18-21,24

The Faithful Servant of God

The Church celebrates the solemn feast of Saint Joseph, the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In marking this day as a solemn feast, the Church invites us to fix our gaze on the faithful and silent life of Joseph, who had the singular honour of being called the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the (foster) father of Jesus Christ our Lord. Very little is said about Saint Joseph in the scriptures. The passage from second book of Samuel is about the promise made to David by God, concerning his house and Dynasty. “When your days are ended and you are laid to rest with your ancestors, I will preserve the offspring of your body after you and make his sovereignty secure. (It is he who shall build a house for my name, and I will make his royal throne secure for ever.) I will be a father to him and he a son to me.” The fulfilment of this promise to David was entrusted to Joseph for supervision. The promise was made to David, but Joseph received the fulfilment and secured it for us.

The passage provides a background and deep meaning of the name with which the angel addressed Joseph in the dream. The angel called him ‘Joseph son of David’, as we read in the gospel, “he had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.” From this background of the importance of the Davidic Promise, we take in the gospel content with awe, as we digest the dignity of the role of the man Joseph, whom God called son of David. A son of David received the fulfilment of the promise God made to David. The fulfilment is in Mary, whom God instructed him to take home as his wife; the son she conceived by the Holy Spirit is the Saviour of the people of God; he is the Son of David that will perpetuate David’s Dynasty and build a House for God. Our imaginations run wide at this juncture, thinking of the contents of this message. What a privilege given to Joseph, to receive the Woman and her Seed, the ancient salvation promised to our race.

The glories of Abraham and David fades in the face of what has been entrusted to the man, Joseph, son of David. Saint Paul’s rumination on the faith of Abraham and the righteousness that accrued to him from believing is used as the right pedestal or basis for deeper understanding and appreciation of the dignity of Saint Joseph. “The promise of inheriting the world was not made to Abraham and his descendants on account of any law but on account of the righteousness which consists in faith. That is why what fulfils the promise depends on faith, so that it may be a free gift and be available to all of Abraham’s descendants.” Thus, for Joseph to receive the fulfilment of the promise made to Abraham and David, he must be a man of exceptional faith in God. The scripture witnesses to that, for the gospel calls him a man of honour. The Church believes this man of extraordinary honour safeguarded the most valuable things on earth for God and us men. He protected the Woman and her Son and enjoyed great favour with God while on earth. He is now in heaven enjoying the reward of his faithfulness in the service of God and his people. Let us celebrate the truth the gospel relates to us in these words: “Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary; of her was born Jesus who is called Christ.” Let us imitate the faithfulness of Saint Joseph in the service of God and the Church. “I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord; through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth.”

Let us pray: Grant, we pray, almighty God, that by Saint Joseph’s intercession your Church may constantly watch over the unfolding of the mysteries of human salvation, whose beginnings you entrusted to his faithful care. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.  

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