Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Today we pause in our Lenten preparation to celebrate a solemnity—the highest order of celebration in the Church—in honor of Joseph, husband of Mary.
In today’s first reading from Samuel we have one example of the Jewish expectation that the Messiah, God’s anointed, would come from the house of David. David was the greatest king of Israel and God promises to raise up an heir, a servant of God, from the house of David.
Today’s gospel from Matthew begins with “Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ” (Mt 1:16). This is the end of a long genealogy in which Matthew explains the history of Joseph’s family, tracing him back to King David and even all the way back to the father Abraham (Mt 1:2-16). Paul, in today’s second reading, emphasizes the righteousness, birthed of faith, that exemplifies the promise that God made to Abraham, and in turn extends to us all as gift (Rom 4:13, 16).
The Messiah shall come from the line of David. Joseph is a son of Abraham and a son of David. Abraham is the father of us all in faith and righteousness. What are we to make of all of this family history?
Let us return to today’s gospel to see how this all comes together. It is interesting that Matthew tells us that Joseph was a righteous man (Mt 1:19). It is the righteous thing for Joseph to do, we are told, for him to divorce Mary upon finding her with child and as yet unmarried. He understands this as righteous action in terms of Jewish law—he’s a true son of Abraham. Yet, he doesn’t want to expose her publicly, where the penalty for such an offense was death by stoning. His compassion goes further than the requirements of the law.
Joseph proves himself all the more righteous in his openness to God’s voice. What a painful situation he must have been in!! Yet, he is attuned to God’s voice even in the midst of apparent betrayal and he serves as husband to Mary, fulfilling the prophecy from the first reading that the Messiah, Jesus, would come from the Davidic line. This is the type of righteousness Paul discusses in the second reading. Joseph, like Abraham, “believed, hoping against hope” that he and Mary were part of God’s plan.
Let us take some time to reflect upon Joseph as the model of righteousness. He had compassion when he had every apparent reason to be angry and vengeful. He listened for the voice of God even at what must have been a terribly confusing and troubling time. He lived his life in service to Mary and Jesus in what must have been a constant call to humility and openness to God.
– Tim Gabrielli