4th Sunday of Advent, St. Joseph

 

The Gospel today reveals, a most difficult marriage preparation for Joseph. At that time, Jews were betrothed one year before they were married. When a couple was betrothed to each other one year before marriage-- they were then legally united but did not live together. A year later, the wedding ceremony took place and then the couple came to live together.

During the year before marriage, after they had been betrothed, Joseph learned Mary was pregnant. To say the least, he would have been shocked and dumbfounded. What suffering he must have endured. He didn’t believe Mary would have sinned, yet he knew he wasn’t the father of the child. What a terrible dilemma. In order to prevent Mary from being stoned to death (which was the punishment at that time for women, who committed such sin.) he believed he should quietly divorce Her.

During a dream Joseph received a visit from an angel asking him to agree to God’s plan for Mary. The angel reassured him it was by way of the Holy Spirit; Mary had conceived. “When Joseph awoke, he did what he angel of the Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to his home.”

Marriage and virginity are two signs of the love of God for us-- and we see both of these united in the first couple of the New Testament, Mary and Joseph. Joseph is a model of chastity. And we know Mary chose to dedicate herself exclusively to God in virginity.

Catholic tradition has always taught that Mary’s virginal love for God was so great, She consecrated Her body to God at an early age through a vow of perpetual virginity. Mary entrusted Her entire person to God and had absolute confidence in His play for Her life. She desired nothing in this life, other than to do God’s will. Her confidence was so great, She trusted Him to lead Her into marriage with a man, despite Her vow of virginity. She was certain God would give Her a man who would truly love both God and Her and respect Her vow; a man who would be completely dedicated to God’s plan and protect Her virginity. She never doubted God.

There was never a man more in love with a woman, than St. Joseph was in love with Mary. What dignity and holiness were required of St. Joseph to be the husband of Mary. In Her feminine Heart, Mary knew She was secure in the manhood of St. Joseph. He was Her knight and warrior. Every wife desires such a husband—a gentleman, a protector, a good father.

Having placed Her trust in God, She entrusted safeguarding the flower of Her virginity to God earlier in a solemn ceremony- had no doubt She trusted Joseph to allow Her to remain a virgin.

In Joseph, Mary experienced a perfect reflection and mirror of God’s love for Her. When Mary met Joseph, She knew that God had chosen Him to be Her loving and beloved spouse. Trusting in God’s plan She fell in love with him and gave him Her Heart. He was the only man who perfectly reflected the pure love of God. Mary and Joseph lived what was called a “Josephite marriage”, meaning they never had relations.

Although Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus, he was a true father to Jesus. When Jesus was found in the temple, Mary said to Jesus, “Your father and I have been looking for you.” We can imagine the love and affection between Joseph and Jesus, and between Joseph and Mary. We can imagine Joseph’s pain at the poor circumstances of Jesus’ birth. We can imagine the pain he must have suffered when Simeon told Mary, Jesus would be a sign that to be opposed and a sword would pierce Mary’s soul. We can imagine the pain Joseph suffered when he had to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt for safety to preserve their lives.

Sometimes we see Joseph pictured as an old man in statues and paintings, but it’s actually believed, he was just a few years older than the Virgin Mary. As Mother Angelica said, “Do you think an old man would have walked from Nazareth all the way to Egypt, during their flight into the desert?”

What gave Joseph the strength to endure all the trials his vocation brought him? It was obviously his life of prayer which gave him the strength to be obedient to God’s call to him. He was a just man, a man of honor. He had to have been a man of deep faith to fulfill his high calling.

It is believed, he died before Jesus began His public ministry and that Jesus and Mary were present with him, as he died. That is the way all people of faith would like to die, in the company of Jesus and Mary. And this is why St. Joseph is the patron of a happy death.

Today, let us “go to Joseph”—“ita ad Joseph” in all our needs, especially seeking his fatherly care. He will help us to pray, to grow in our faith, to be obedient and to be just. He will help us love Our Blessed Mother and the Divine Child.

Let us pray: O Joseph, spouse of the Mother of God and step-father to Jesus, the Son of God, grant that men may imitate your fatherhood, and they may they be faithful and loving spouses, as you were to Mary, your wife. Pray for and protect Holy Mother Church and grant us the grace of a happy death.