May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
On this fourth and final Sunday of Advent, we stand at the threshold of Christmas, and the Church in her wisdom presents us with one of my favorite parts of the story of Christ’s nativity, the faithfulness of Saint Joseph, the quiet, faithful man who said yes to God’s unimaginable plan.
The Often-Overlooked Joseph
Saint Joseph is often overlooked when we consider the Holy Family, but he played a vital role and should serve as an inspiration to all of us today. I remember the very first icon I purchased for myself was of Joseph and Jesus as an infant, it still hangs in my office today. In our Gospel lesson, we are told a bit about Saint Joseph, but there is quite a bit not said.
A Just Man: Justice as Mercy
We are told that Joseph was a just man. Now it is easy to overlook just how important this really is, because in our western minds we might think it simply means that he was just because he followed the law. But the law that guided Jewish society called for Mary to be stoned. This was not so much a suggestion or provision, but rather a requirement.
For an unchaste woman, one who might get herself pregnant before she was married, was considered a shameful stain on society, one that should be purged from the community, and according to the law, purged by stoning. So in this case, Joseph not only had the right to accuse her and bring her before the men of the town to be stoned, but he also had the moral obligation. He did not, yet is still considered just, and that is worth pondering.
Saint Joseph modeled for us an important lesson, and one which Jesus later clearly teaches: God is a God of grace. The law is meant to guide our lives toward righteousness, but simple obedience to the letter of the law does not necessarily produce righteousness. We are called to a higher, Godly standard, one of mercy and grace. Joseph here demonstrates a greater understanding of faithfulness than simply abiding by the law, and a greater Godliness by showing mercy and grace.
The Angelic Visitation
Now, he was still conflicted, and I imagine greatly conflicted. He was still planning to divorce Mary until he was visited by an angel in his dream. This was the first of four prophetic visitations Saint Joseph received in Holy Scripture. He is told that he need not fear to marry Mary, that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and that He shall be called Immanuel, God with us.
When the angel quotes Isaiah’s prophecy, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel,” this wasn’t merely predictive. For seven centuries, faithful Israel had waited for the sign God promised to King Ahaz. Now, in Joseph’s Nazareth workshop, that ancient promise finds its fulfillment. The God who is utterly transcendent becomes utterly present: God with us.
Discernment and Obedience
Now think back to a time when you were dealing with an internal struggle, something significant going on in your life. It is not at all uncommon for us to dream about whatever it is we are worried or thinking about. It is one of the ways our brains continue to process it, even in unconsciousness.
Joseph could have done what most of us do, disregarded it as a wild and crazy dream. Imagine him gathered with friends the next day, saying something along the lines of, “You won’t believe the crazy dream I had last night.” We know that is not what happened, not with this dream or the other three we are told about.
Saint Joseph modeled for us right and proper discernment of what God was telling him and docility to obey and respond to God. This was essential to the Gospel.
The Gift of Adoption
By choosing to complete the marriage process and receive Mary into his home, Saint Joseph also claimed Jesus as his own, part of his lineage, and agreed to provide for and protect Him, which he did.
Paul tells us in our Epistle reading that Jesus was “descended from David according to the flesh.” This descent came through Joseph’s legal adoption. When Joseph named the child Jesus, he claimed Him as his own son, placing Him in the royal lineage of David. Joseph’s obedience to the angel wasn’t just personal piety, it was essential to God’s plan of redemption.
In fleeing to Egypt, returning to Israel, and settling in Galilee, Joseph fulfilled his protective and providential role. Saint Joseph adopted and cared for God as his own child, as God adopts and cares for each of us as His own through the redemption provided by Christ.
This too serves as a powerful example and inspiration to us as we consider what God might be calling us to adopt in our own lives. This does not mean that all need to go out and adopt a child, although it could. Rather, and more importantly, it represents a paradigm shift in our thinking.
The Spirit of Adoption in Our Lives
All too often we focus more on differentiating what is not ours, those things we are not responsible for, those tasks which are not our job. “That’s no concern of mine, that’s not my job.” We walk by trash on the floor or chores to be done, or people to be cared for and think, “Oh, someone else will take care of it.”
Saint Joseph’s example should inspire us to consider for a moment that we are that someone else.
He was truly a just man, not just law-abiding, but righteous and Godly as well. He showed mercy and kindness even when he did not have to, even when, from his perspective, it was not deserved. He was receptive to God and docile to the leading of the Holy Spirit, which made him a vital part of the Gospel story as the one who protected and provided for Jesus.
He modeled for us the spirit of adoption which is at the core of our faith, to not exclude and guard but to include and share. He showed us what it means to take responsibility and ownership of those things which God has placed in our path, those things with which He has entrusted us.
An Examination of Conscience
So in these final few days of Advent, as we continue to focus our hearts in hopeful anticipation of the season of Christmas to come, let us consider for a moment the example of Saint Joseph. Let us examine our hearts, our motives, our inward orientation.
Are we just? Are we righteous? Do we show mercy and grace, even when it is not convenient or deserved?
Are we docile and open to the guiding and leading of God the Holy Spirit in our lives? Do we make decisions based on what He tells us to do, or only on what we want?
Are we walking in the same spirit of adoption modeled for us by Saint Joseph, the same willingness to adopt that God has so graciously shown to us?
Do we look for ways to love, ways to serve, ways to work for the betterment of furthering God’s kingdom, His church, our community?
Conclusion
May each of us be inspired by the example of Saint Joseph this Advent season, and as we prepare to receive the wondrous blessing that is Christ our Lord, may we be transformed anew this year by His presence in our lives.
Let us pray:
Almighty and gracious Father, give us the grace to live by the example of your servant Joseph, that we too might live justly, listen and respond to Your guiding, and faithfully serve You in all things. We ask this through Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and evermore. Amen.
Readings: Isaiah 7:10-17 | Psalm 24 | Romans 1:1-7 | Matthew 1:18-25