St. Joseph is honored in the Church by many titles: the Protector of the Universal Church, Patron of the Dying, Patron of the Interior Life, Patron of Carpenters, and Patron of Workers. But today, the greatest annual feast in his honor, the Church celebrates St. Joseph as the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Why do we give honor to Joseph? We can understand why he comes into the picture at Christmas time, but other than that, we may make the common mistake of considering him a mere background player in the great drama of salvation. With today’s Solemnity, the Church is reminding us that Joseph is much more important than he may seem at first glance. In fact, he is one of the greatest examples we have of a selfless, dedicated servant of God. He is a model of the profound interior response to God that the Scriptures call the “obedience of faith” (Rm 1:5; 16:26; cf. CCC 143). Joseph’s absolute dedication to the will of God, to living the commandments of love, makes him great. His selflessness is revealed in his willingness to fade into the background, so to speak, and silently fulfill his unique mission of serving the Holy Family.
The first great model of faith in the Bible is Abraham, whom St. Paul rightly describes in the second reading as “the father of us all.” Abraham is not only the father of those who “adhere to the law,” the Jews, but also of all who follow his way of faith. By choosing this passage for the solemnity of St. Joseph, the Church teaches us that, like Abraham, Joseph is a true father figure. Abraham passed the test of faith, placing his trust in God “who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not exist.” Joseph’s faith was put to the test as well, particularly when he was asked to believe that God had “called into being” something that had never existed, a virgin pregnant without the involvement of a man. And Joseph passed the test, taking Mary into his home as his wife. Like Abraham, “he believed, hoping against hope.” And his decision to live by obedient faith “was credited to him as righteousness.”
Joseph was always “a righteous man,” a just man, meaning he always sought to submit himself fully to the law of God. He was a descendant of King David and was committed to being faithful to the covenant God made with his forefathers. We can see in Joseph a reflection of what Jesus said about himself in yesterday’s Gospel, “I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.”
But when he learned that Mary was pregnant, Joseph found himself in a dilemma that seemed to have no “righteous” solution. Struggling in the darkness of an impossible contradiction, he prudently decides to follow the best possible course. When the angel tells him about the amazing work that God has done in Mary, Joseph immediately changes his course of action. Without question or delay he places his trust in God and acts on the belief that Mary’s child was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit.
This is how faith works! Strong faith gives us the power to listen well and then promptly put into practice what we hear from the Lord – no matter how impossible it seems. Strong faith welcomes Jesus and Mary, providing a home for them in our hearts.
In order for our faith to grow stronger, God allows us to be tested. At times, what the Lord asks us to accept or to do is clearly impossible for us. In order to go forward, we need to do what Joseph does. Joseph shows us that faith makes it possible to overcome our fears and do what God asks of us. By faith we shift our attention away from our limitations and begin to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit. We trust that what is impossible for us is not impossible for God.
How can I better imitate the humility, faithfulness, and obedience of St. Joseph? How do I follow in the footsteps of St. Joseph and Abraham in the path of righteousness? How does the gift of faith enable me to live by the conviction that nothing is impossible for God?
Excerpt from The Anawim Way, Volume 22, no. 3. More information about The Anawim Way may be found here.