We think we don’t know Joseph, the father of Jesus very well. After all, he doesn’t even speak a single word in the Bible. However, we actually know him pretty well based on the little information we do know about him.
Before Mary even knew about Jesus, she had chosen to marry Joseph. We know that Joseph must have been a great man because Mary who was perfect and chosen by God, chose him. To win the love of Mary is a special and wonderful thing. I know I would be thrilled to have Mary even call me a close friend.
When Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant, he didn’t turn her in to be punished or put to death. He planned on keeping everything quiet and walking away from the relationship. He was probably very hurt, but he didn’t seek revenge. How often do we seek revenge for the times people have wronged us? We live in a culture that is full of lawsuits. When people get divorced now, the process can be very ugly and is more about what I can get and not what I can give or how I can forgive.
Joseph was a good leader of his family and kept his family safe when Herod was seeking to kill all the innocent children. He was also obedient to the Jewish law to have his firstborn dedicated to God in the temple. It’s nice when I see fathers who work to protect their kids’ spiritual life by being good role models. We not only need to take our kids to church, but also live our faith visibly everyday. If parents don’t make their faith a priority, their children won’t either.
Joseph was not only a good role model for fathers, but for husbands as well. How many men only focus on making the sexual relationship with their spouse pleasing to them? Joseph recognized Mary’s holiness and importance and decided to love her in the way she needed him to love her. He put her need to remain pure above his own physical needs. While we probably aren’t called to something this extreme, if we always put our spouses needs above our own, we would see a lot more marriages thrive.
St. Joseph has a special place in my heart because I met my wife Elizabeth for the first time at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lakeland, FL. I also proposed to her at the same church and we named our firstborn, you guessed it, Joseph. St. Joseph has changed my life for the better and he can change your life too if you follow his example.
Here is a bonus intercessory prayer to St. Joseph:
Oh, St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God. I place in you all my interests and desires. Oh, St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers. Oh, St. Joseph, I never weary of contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls – Pray for me
