Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Today is the Solemnity of St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This celebration is a big deal! Notice that the Church includes a reading from the Epistles today, just as we receive on Sundays. This Solemnity should get our attention and capture our imagination in prayer as we reflect with gratitude upon the life and witness of St Joseph and his role as our Blessed Mother’s spouse and our Lord Jesus’ adoptive, legal father. As we meditate on the life of St Joseph, let us consider how we might emulate him in our love for God, our families, and every neighbor.
St Joseph was an astonishing man in many ways. In our Gospel today, St Matthew refers to him as “dikaios” (Matt. 1:19), a “righteous, just, and upright man [person].” Strongs Lexicon offers this description, “The term "dikaios" is used in the New Testament to describe someone who is righteous or just, both in terms of their relationship with God and their conduct towards others. It conveys the idea of being in right standing with God, adhering to His laws, and living a life that reflects His character . . .” St Joseph fulfilled the Jewish understanding of righteousness as being deeply rooted in Israel’s covenant relationship with Yahweh – so much so that his life points beyond the Torah to a life lived in Christ, rooted in the New Covenant law of love.
I’d like to key on this phrase from Strongs, someone who is righteous or just, both in terms of their relationship with God and their conduct towards others. I invite you to think with me about what the Gospels tell us of St Joseph. In terms of his relationship with God, I see St Joseph as radically available, unreservedly obedient, unwaveringly courageous, abjectly humble, pure of heart, unapologetically faithful, wholeheartedly trusting, deeply reverent. What other virtues come to your mind as you consider St Joseph and his relationship with our Heavenly Father?
Several of the Church Fathers, including St Thomas Aquinas, viewed Joseph’s initial decision to divorce Mary quietly, as motivated by “reverential fear.” Joseph had decided to release Mary from their bond, not out of shame or anger, but out of a humble, reverent fear that he was unworthy to be the husband of such a holy mother and child. In this interpretation, we find Joseph on his knees in awe and wonder at the mystery of what God was doing in Mary. You and I might ask ourselves if we, like Joseph, experience moments of awe and wonder over the workings of God in our lives that compel us to our knees. If not, why not? Do we have a “reverential fear” of God?
In terms of St Joseph’s conduct toward others, Joseph loved Mary and Jesus sacrificially and unconditionally. Consider the extent to which Joseph put himself third (God 1st and others 2nd). Joseph remained the chaste spouse of our Blessed Mother. He set aside his own needs for physical intimacy and perhaps even his dreams of having biological children of his own. He conformed his will to the will of our Heavenly Father. He put his life on hold in order to be hyper responsive to God’s summons. Think, for example, of everything entailed in the family’s flight to and time spent in Egypt. By God’s grace, Joseph was the protector of the Holy Family through many trials and hardships. As Jesus grew up, Joseph modeled to him what it was to be a dikaios, a righteous man. In his humanity, Jesus looked to his earthly father to set a holy and moral example. What other characteristics can you name as you consider Joseph’s pure and virtuous relationship with his wife and child?
As we celebrate this important Solemnity today, let us consider our roles and relationships within our families. Do we consistently put ourselves third, with an orientation toward God first and others second? Do we put the needs of our spouse, children, family, friends above our own? Are we willing to set aside our personal needs and desires in order to serve others? Are we able to humbly bow our will to the will of our Heavenly Father? Do others see us as “dikaios,” looking to us for a moral example and witness to the faith?
Perhaps some of the bodily disciplines of Lent can become means to help us become more humble servants. [Additionally, a really lovely reflection on St Joseph from Vatican News can be found here.] St Joseph, pray for us!
I’ll see you in the Eucharist,
Elizabeth Wells