The Gift of St. Joseph
“Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.”Mt. 1:19
Today we celebrate the solemnity of St. Joseph, the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The scripture verse we just heard seemingly suggests that Joseph thinks Mary has been unfaithful but at the same time out of his compassion did not want to “expose her to shame,” and so he decided to “divorce her quietly.” Does that make any sense, really? If Mary did commit adultery, would a righteous and just man allow this to happen, seemingly enabling it and move on? I don’t think so.
Joseph was a righteous man, the man whom God has chosen to be the husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus. Some commentators say that because of this, Joseph was aware that something supernatural was happening with Mary and he, a righteous man, did not feel worthy to take on such a task and so he decided to leave. Then we know what happens next. The Angel appeared to him and assured him and encouraged him.
St. Joseph was the man who protected Mary on the way to Bethlehem and guarded Mary and Jesus as they fled to Egypt. He was the man who taught Jesus what it meant to be a man, a son, and a father here on earth. Such a gift was St. Joseph to Mary and Jesus. What a gift he is to us. May we be encouraged by his life and by his humble and faithful witness. St. Joseph was the husband of Mary, who is sinless, and the foster father of Jesus, the Son of God. Let us today ask St. Joseph to teach us how to love as he loved Mary and Jesus, so that like him we may be ever close to the Lord.
