Wednesday, March 19, 2025

 

Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(2 Samuel 7:4-5a.12-14a.16; Romans 4:13.16-18.22; Matthew 1:16.18-21.24a)

One innovation of Pope Francis has been to include St. Joseph in the very often used Second and Third Eucharistic Prayers.  For awhile waning in the popular eye, Joseph’s role in the economy of salvation has been reemphasized.  After all, he not only gave Jesus royal lineage; he most likely taught his divine son godly justice.

In today’s gospel Joseph manifests how justice is a virtue that requires more than a literal enactment of law but also love and prudence.  The Law allows Joseph to publicly expose Mary as having sexual relations outside marriage.  Of course, that is not true, but her pregnancy indicates it.  However, Joseph, being truly just, cares about Mary and adeptly decides to divorce her in secret.  In the end he does not have to do it, but his plan reveals a man of good character.  Raising Jesus as his own son, he likely passes on to him godly virtues.

Although contemporary artists often picture Joseph touching Mary, in classical art there is almost always a separation between the two.  Joseph was a chaste man who would not let proximity lapse into sexual intimacy.  It is one more virtue that we can learn from this wise and holy man.

Monday, March 20, 2023

Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(2 Samuel 7:4-5a.12-14a.16; Romans 4:13.16-18.22; Matthew 1:16.18-21.24a)

The status of men has decreased in the last generation.  Two or three generations ago, popular television shows like “Father Knows Best” and “All My Sons” portrayed men as loving, wise, and faithful.  Today men are often considered chauvinistic and irresponsible.  For this reason church men and women have looked to St. Joseph as a model and an intercessor.

As a model, Joseph displays righteousness and tenderness in his relations to Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Rather than expose her to shame when made aware of her pregnancy, he decides to divorce her quietly.  Then, made aware of the circumstances, he generously provides her and her child with a home.  As an intercessor, Joseph has been seen as a person of preeminent sanctity, someone to be counted on for assistance.

As an anomaly during Lent, today’s feast of St. Joseph is celebrated as if it were a Sunday.  The Church bids us to pray to, toast, and relax with this wonderful man.  On the Sabbath, Joseph rejoiced in the Lord.  May we do the same today!

Friday, March 6, 2015

Friday of Second Week in Lent

(Genesis 37:3-4.12-13a.17b-28a; Matthew 21:33-43.45-46)

Pairing the Old Testament reading with the gospel today reveals Joseph as a prototype of Jesus.  Like Joseph, Jesus is betrayed by his own people who hand him over to foreigners and thereby cause him grave injury despite his being completely innocent.  Also, both the story of Joseph and that of Jesus turn out glorious.  Joseph thrives in captivity, and Jesus is raised from the dead. 

The narratives remind us that our destiny is not ultimately in the hands of people who would harm us.  God will decide if we merit heaven or deserve hell. Whether we make corporate decisions from a spacious office looking over the city or sweep floors in the basement, we want our lives to testify to God’s love.  Then we may hope that He will forgive our failings and redeem us from any predicament in which we find ourselves, even death itself.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(II Samuel 7:405a.12-14a.16; Romans 3:13.16-18.22; Matthew 1:16.18-21.24a)

“Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and the Pharisees,” Jesus proclaims on the mountain, “you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”  Perhaps Jesus discerned this new righteousness by observing his foster-father St. Joseph.

In today’s gospel Matthew tells us that Joseph is a “righteous man.”  The measure of his righteousness is seen by his not allowing Mary to be exposed to shame.  There exist motives for him to do so.  We can imagine Joseph’s sense of outrage upon learning that his betrothed is pregnant by another.  Also, it is reasoned that he would be able to keep Mary’s dowry if he divorces her publicly.  But Joseph, as Jesus recommends throughout his sermon on true righteousness, moves secretly so that only God sees his good deed.

As we know well, Joseph’s accepting responsibility for Mary and Jesus involves ever greater sacrifices.  In Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth, Joseph must take his family to Egypt as refugees.  Also, since Mary remains a virgin, Joseph foregoes sexual intimacy.  Nowhere in the gospel does Joseph say a word, much less utter a complaint.  He is the quiet hero who exemplifies the implicit righteousness that Jesus comes to bestow on all humans.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Solemnity of St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(II Samuel 7:4-5a.12-14a.16; Romans 4:13.16-18.22; Matthew 1:16.18-21.24a)

The movie “Raggedy Man” tells about a disfigured war veteran who returns home to silently watch over his estranged wife and two sons.  The man, who abandoned his family several years before, eventually gives his life to protect it from intruders.  The story is reminiscent in ways of the gospel portrait of St. Joseph.

St. Joseph never utters a word in the two gospels where he has active roles.  Yet his contribution to the birth and upbringing of Jesus is palpable.  He gives Jesus the proper lineage of a Messiah.  Equally critical, he lives righteously carrying out the spirit of the law which, no doubt, gives example to the boy Jesus.  Prompted by the heavenly messenger, he takes the pregnant Mary into his home.  Moved again to save Jesus from the machinations of the evil Herod, he takes Mary and her son to Egypt.  It is assumed that through these trials and beyond he never has sexual intimacy with the Virgin Mother.

In our over-heated sexually and under-achieving morally society St. Joseph serves as model of goodness.  He reflects the truth that sex is not everything, but attending to a relationship with Jesus is.  Further, he inspires us to discern from our experiences as well as our dreams the vocation to which God is calling us.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent

(Jeremiah 23:5-8; Matthew 1:18-25)

An old priest was describing his father. He said the man was the most honest person he had ever known. When asked if his father was religious, the priest responded, “Yes, he is the reason why I became a priest.” Joseph, introduced to us in the gospel today, is such a man.

Joseph has reason to make a public case against Mary. Not only does it seem that she has been unfaithful to him, but also Joseph would be able to keep the dowry he likely was given for Mary. But Joseph, being “a righteous man,” that is one who always follows God’s loving will, prefers to divorce her quietly. He is acting as if he just decided that the marriage wouldn’t work out. Thus, he saves Mary the humiliation of public inquiry into her pregnancy. Of course, the revelation by the angel provides Joseph reason to take Mary into his home despite her already having child.

In being born a human of Mary, the wife of Joseph, Jesus will provide us the grace to act like his righteous foster-father. He will teach us God’s ways and then die on the cross dispensing the Holy Spirit so that we may stay on that sometimes difficult road.

Homilette for Friday, March 13, 2009

Friday of Second Week in Lent

(Genesis 37:3-4.12-13a.17b-28a; Matthew 21:33-43.45-46)

We often see the Joseph of Genesis as a proto-type of Joseph in the New Testament. Both are righteous men; both sojourn in Egypt, and both have dreams. However, pairing the Old Testament reading with the gospel today reveals Joseph as a symbol of Jesus as well. Like Joseph, Jesus is betrayed by his own people, handed over to foreigners, and suffers even though he is completely innocent.

Both the story of Joseph and that of Jesus turns out glorious. Joseph thrives in captivity and Jesus rises from the dead. Each reminds us that howsoever the severity of our suffering, faithfulness to God will end in a blessing.