by Father John P. Cush
THE GOSPEL WE proclaim today, taken from the Evangelist Matthew, puts the focus firmly on St. Joseph, the husband of Mary. Joseph stands as a model of what every Catholic man – or woman, for that matter – should be.
Joseph was truly obedient to the will of God in his life. The angel tells Joseph to “(H)ave no fear about taking Mary to be your wife.”
Decisive Action
As soon as Joseph knew God’s will for him, he obeyed. When the angel told Joseph that Herod was planning to destroy the Child, Joseph immediately got up and began the flight to Egypt. He didn’t negotiate the plans; he wasn’t texting Mary to see what she thought about it. He knew what he had to do for his wife and his son – the Son of God really – and he did it.
Imagine the impact of going into Egypt. We know what Egypt meant to the Jewish people historically. It would be like a modern-day Jew running to modern-day Auschwitz to search for safety.
And yet, he accepts. As Moses led his people out of Egypt, this Joseph follows the example of that other “master dreamer,” Joseph of the Book of Genesis, and establishes a place in Egypt for his people, his humble wife and unborn child.
Often, when we think of Joseph, we only think about his relationship with our Lord. I’d like to put the focus on the relationship with his wife. Much of our tradition posits Joseph as old. This is due to the apocryphal writings of the early church, ancient writings which were not divinely inspired, or approved by the Church as canonical. Some of these ancient writings say that when Joseph married the Blessed Mother he was 89 years old, and that he died at the age of 111. That’s pretty amazing.
Guardian and Protector
There is nothing in the Bible to suggest that St. Joseph was so old. We can be assured that Mary didn’t have to push St. Joseph in a wheelchair through Nazareth. Even in the ancient catacomb of Priscilla, Joseph was drawn without a beard showing him to be a younger man. He was obviously older than the Blessed Mother, perhaps in his 30s, while she was much younger. Joseph was Mary’s guardian and protector.
A younger man with his whole life in front of him – well, at least as long as the average lifespan of a man was back then – his whole concept of his relationship with his wife had to change. What he thought would have been their relationship, the family that they would raise together – well, that all had to change.
I think that for Joseph, the just man, he must truly have loved Mary. What he does for her is not just out of duty and piety. He does what he does because he truly, deeply and chastely loves her, and was totally devoted to her, going far above and beyond. Joseph loved his wife and he would do anything for her, even giving up everything he has and knows for her. That flight into Egypt is something I keep thinking about lately. He adores his wife; he trusts her. And when her son, the Son of God, is born, he loves her even more because of Jesus.
Obedience and Trust
Joseph was an obedient man. Whenever he was warned in a dream, he always obeyed the will of God. Even though Mary was far along in her pregnancy, Joseph had to believe it was God’s will for them to leave Nazareth and go down to Bethlehem to fulfill the prophecy of Micah that the Savior would be born in Bethlehem. Joseph abandoned himself to the will of God. I wonder if I could have that trust. He knows that it won’t be easy, not for him, not for his wife and not for their son, Jesus. But he trusts.
Can I do that? Can I trust in my own vocation? Can you? Can you and I trust that the Lord has placed everything in our midst, every one in our lives – for a reason – and be open, attentive, reasonable, loving and honest before the face of God, before the will of God in our lives?
This is the challenge, this is the example of Joseph, the one who adores Mary and Jesus, for each of us in our lives.
Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 7: 10-14
Psalm 24: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1: 18-24
Father John P. Cush, a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn, serves as academic dean of the Pontifical North American College, Vatican City-State and as an assistant professor of theology and U.S. Church history.