Joseph’s Faithful Response

We don’t really have a clear picture of St. Joseph’s life. He is mentioned directly only in the birth and childhood stories in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Mark never mentions him and John only refers to him twice and then indirectly when he calls Jesus the “Son of Joseph”. We know that Joseph was alive and involved in the life of Jesus’ early life, at least up until the time that Jesus was found in the Temple in Jerusalem listening to the teachers and asking them questions and astounding them with his understanding and answers as written in Mark’s Gospel. Biblical scholars are certain that St. Joseph died well before the public life of Jesus.

I think that the significance of St. Joseph and why he is so revered is given to us in the Gospel from Matthew. Mary was betrothed to Joseph before she “was found with child through the Holy Spirit”. By the custom of those days, a betrothal was a significantly more sacred bond than an engagement is today. This bond was legally as strong as marriage except they lived apart and had no conjugal relations and the woman’s parents were still responsible for her care and support. Marriage was the final seal upon the bond. So if you wanted to terminate or end a betrothal, the process was very similar to a formal legal divorce. Again, referring to the cultural norms of that time, a woman betrothed but not married who became pregnant, had committed a serious sin and an unforgivable social and moral transgression. Joseph could by law, have Mary stoned or cast out from the community. But what did Joseph do? As we heard in the Gospel, “since he was a righteous man yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. But then an angel of God 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.” Joseph, being a man of great faith, did as the Angel of God had instructed him. It was Joseph’s faithful response to God that was most significant.

We can reflect on Joseph’s faith and devotion to Mary as we continue our journey through Lent. Recall that we are called to prayer, repentance, and almsgiving. Joseph had a great love for Mary but also God and through that love, he had the courage to do as instructed and to dismiss the possible family and community disgrace that faced both him and Mary.

We can look to Joseph for inspiration and courage to live our faith as Jesus has instructed us to do. That is why it is so important for each of us to form a personal and intimate relationship with the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit through prayer and reflection, taking advantage of the Sacraments, especially the Sacrament of Reconciliation or confession. You will hear me shout the need for regular confession until my last breath is drawn. Many Catholics, including myself, did not go to confession out of fear or a lack of a clear understanding of the Sacrament. We humans sin. We all have crosses to carry and some of those crosses cause us to sin and sometimes those sins are what the Church refers to as grave or mortal sins. Whatever the sin we commit or the cross we bear, it inflicts injury to our relationship with God. People who don’t understand the true essence of the Sacrament often take the position that they confess their sins to Jesus directly and He (Jesus) knows they are sorry and are forgiven. Except that Jesus gave the power to forgive on earth to the Apostles and their successors. It is through the act of going to a priest and confessing our sins and being truly sorry that we are absolved of our sins and we receive Sanctifying Grace that heals the wounds of sin and strengthens us against the evil one who is always looking to steal our soul. If you have not been to confession for some time, for whatever reason, pray for the strength to go and fully reunite yourself with the Triune God. In my case, and I think in everyone’s case, the Sacrament of Reconciliation along with frequent Holy Communion is the healing and bonding agents that solidify our personal and intimate relationship with God. To have that relationship allows us the ability to be guided by the Holy Spirit. 

Like Joseph who trusted God and the message he was given through the Angel of God, we too must have the faith and courage to love God and others and to respond to God’s will so that we can achieve the ultimate goal in our lives, eternal salvation.

God Bless and continue to build that personal and intimate relationship with God.
AND GET TO CONFESSION SOON!

~Deacon Jim Nelson
St. Joseph, Battle Creek, Mi