Remember Matthew 1:16. 18-21. 24
This is how Jesus Christ came to be born.
His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph; being a man of love but also honour and faith and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. 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.‘
When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to his home. Joseph was also a man of obedience to God and took over the fostership of Jesus.
Reflect
There is always a danger that we treat St Joseph with the same respect to give to a plaster cast statue of a somewhat balding middle aged man with a respectable beard frozen in time.
His was a hidden role in the gospel, no words of his survive, his legacy, love and courageous obedience survive in his actions.
This year Pope Francis urges us to reflect on and imitate his ‘creative obedience’ to God’s will.
Joseph was a man of quiet and faith, courage and obedience and dreams.
He responded humbly to each of the angel’s messages and challenges, doing all in his power to protect his young pregnant fiancé Mary and her unborn son, Jesus.
He responded immediately to the message about Herod’s plan to kill Jesus. He quietly but urgently took his wife Mary and Jesus away from Judea to the safer country of Egypt.
Once the Herodian threat had passed, Joseph brought the family back home to Nazareth where they could live like ‘a normal family’ – enjoying each other.
The next time we hear of Joseph is when Jesus strays off in Jerusalem and Mary and Joseph had to go searching for him.
Joseph must have had a profound impact on his son Jesus by his attitude and actions. He trained Jesus as best he understood for life as an honest tradesman with clear principles for living.
Our presumption is that he died before Jesus’ public ministry began and was attended in death by Jesus and Mary. St Joseph pray for us.
Prayer
Father,
You entrusted Jesus and Mary to the care of Joseph and Mary,
watch over us as we care for our families.
We pray today for all one parent families,
for those families with problems with their children,
for those who cannot have children of their own,
for foster parents awaiting or rearing their children,
for those who have lost their children through sickness, death, accident or violence
and for all who suffer family violence or addictions.
Spirit of the Living God, inspire us with your dreams for us as families.
Amen
Hymn
All that I am, all that I do,
All that I’ll ever have
I offer now to you.
Take and sanctify these gifts
For your glory, Lord.
Knowing that I love and serve you
Is enough reward.
All that I am, all that I do,
All that I’ll ever have
I offer now to you.
II
All that I dream, all that I pray,
All that I’ll ever make
I give to you today
Take and sanctify these gifts
For your glory, Lord.
Knowing that I love and serve you
Is enough reward. (Refrain)
( by Sebastian Temple)
