Joseph, Legal Father of Jesus

Today's Reflections

Joseph, Legal Father of Jesus

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Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24

¹⁶Jacob [became] the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Messiah.

¹⁸Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the holy Spirit. ¹⁹Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. ²⁰Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. ²¹She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” ²⁴When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

Reflection:

He was a righteous man. We are not told of the age of Joseph. We are not told whether he is big or small, handsome or ugly. All we are told is that he is a righteous man. This means that he lives by faith and that he is obedient to God. In his way of dealing with his crisis (what a terrible thing to find out that his wife with whom he has not yet cohabited is pregnant!), he shows himself acting according to the law but also in a merciful way. Then, when he learns that the child Mary bears in her womb is from the Holy Spirit and is not from any man, he obeys God’s will to take her into his home.

When we encounter crises in life, let us continue to act in faith and in obedience to what God wants. God will not allow the faithful and the obedient to stray away, though God may allow them to take a few steps in the wrong direction.

Joseph, a man of faith and humility,

exemplifies the Christian attitude

toward life’s many mysteries.