ST. JOSEPH, GUARDIAN OF JESUS
19 March Anno + Domini 2009
"St. Joseph: Faithful Guardian"
Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
It is good that St. Joseph has his own feast day in the Church Year. He really only gets honorable mention during our celebration of Christmas. He's there in the story. We read about him and acknowledge his presence in the Christmas narrative, but our focus is so directed toward the Baby God born in the manger that Joseph is left lurking in the background. Mary, the Mother of God, along with Elizabeth, her cousin, and Zechariah, Elizabeth's husband, and John the Baptist, their son, all receive more of our attention than does Joseph. Even the shepherds keeping their flocks at night, Simeon and Anna, the magi from the East, and King Herod draw more of our focus than Joseph.
So it is good that we take time today to remember and honor this faithful servant of our Lord, even though I'm sure St. Joseph is quite content remaining in the background. He would be the first to remind us that our focus must remain on Jesus, his adopted Son. He would also have us pay more honor and respect to his wife, Mary, the Blessed Virgin, who believed the Word of the Lord spoken to her by Gabriel. Nevertheless, St. Joseph, faithful guardian of Jesus, is most worthy of our honor and remembrance.
What a shock to the system it must have been for Joseph to learn that his betrothed was with child. He must have thought that Mary was simply delusional when she first told him that what was conceived in her was from the Holy Spirit. And yet, consider how this faithful man reacted to this most shocking, and seemingly absurd, news. He was determined to handle things quietly. It wasn't just that he wanted to avoid a public scandal. He was actually concerned about Mary. Ponder that for a moment. Even though he was quite sure that she had violated their betrothal and made the detestable mistake of having sexual relations with some unknown man, Joseph wanted to protect her from public shame and keep her from receiving the punishment her apparent actions justifiably deserved. He was determined to divorce her quietly. He wasn't the least bit vindictive; he had no desire to take revenge or get even. Instead, wonder of wonders, he sought to protect Mary's reputation as best he could.
His reaction to the news of Mary's pregnancy is, in and of itself, enough to warrant our honor and respect. Joseph was surely a righteous man, one whose faith in God showed itself forth in the fruit of loving his neighbors. He continued to love Mary even in this most trying and difficult time. What an example he is for us, for he shows us the righteous way to handle those who wrong us - not to seek revenge, but to go on loving them, as difficult as that may be, and to commend them to God.
None of this is to say that this situation didn't give Joseph fits. How could it not? I'm sure it caused him much pain and suffering. It probably kept him up at night. He had his life planned out and was looking forward to building that life with Mary, his betrothed. That was all over. What would he do now?
And then it happened. The angel came to Joseph in a dream and confirmed what Mary had told him. She was right, after all. She hadn't violated their betrothal. There was no mystery man responsible for her pregnancy. It was just as she said. She had conceived by the Holy Spirit and the Baby growing in her womb would be his Savior, the Savior of the whole world. And, St. Joseph, true to form, accepted this Word and set out to be the best possible husband he could be for Mary, and to fulfill his responsibility as Jesus' guardian to the best of his ability.
And so he did. He continued to be receptive to the Word of the Lord spoken to him by the Lord's messengers in his dreams. He faithfully guided Jesus out of Bethlehem into Egypt and guaranteed His protection. He remained there until he received news again from the Lord's messenger that it was safe to return home. And he spent his remaining days being a faithful earthly father to his adopted Son and Savior. He didn't live to see Jesus begin His public ministry and complete the work of our salvation, but he saw it all the same. Sometime between Jesus' twelfth and thirtieth birthdays, Joseph was gathered into Abraham's bosom. He died full of faith, trusting that the Boy he helped raise, nourish, and protect; the Boy he taught how to use a hammer and saw was none other than the Promised Messiah and Savior of mankind. And, wonder of wonders, when Joseph drew his last breath here on earth, it was this same Boy who embraced him as he entered heavenly bliss. Wrap your mind about that for a minute. Okay, stop, 'cause if you think about this too long, your brain will begin to hurt.
Dear friends in Christ, it is good, right, and salutary that we honor and remember St. Joseph, guardian of Jesus this day. His role in the salvation story is not insignificant. He was faithful to the charge given him, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, loved him to the end.
He loves you, too. He made the journey to the cross to save you from all your sins. He suffered and died in your place. And now, He has chosen you as His own, that you might receive the same reward His adoptive father received.
Come, then, to His Holy Altar and receive with St. Joseph, the Blessed Virgin, and all the saints, the Bread of Heaven, given into you for the forgiveness of your every sin and for the strengthening and preservation of your faith. Come and be filled that you, like St. Joseph, might remain faithful to the tasks the Lord has given you to do - to love Him and to love your neighbors. In Jesus' Holy and Precious Name. Amen.
Now the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, unto life everlasting. Amen.