My Dear People, 

I wish for everyone a very Happy and Blessed New Year. 

This liturgical year we read from the Gospel of Matthew. He is directing the Gospels to Jewish-Christians. Since they know the Sacred Scriptures, they are readily able to see the connection from the scriptures to what happens with Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (the Holy Family).  

Matthew’s Gospel is one of the few that focuses on St. Joseph as the protagonist. Let us recall a few facts about a great but overlooked saint. St. Joseph was of royal blood. In fact, he himself was heir to the throne of Jerusalem (that is the point of the genealogy of Matthew:1). Although he is the legitimate heir, he must flee from the imposter who sits on the throne. Herod, a half-Jewish, half-Edomite aristocrat and politician, bribed, manipulated, and married his way onto the throne of Israel. Herod is one of the original anti-Christ figures of the Bible. 

St Joseph was of the royal line of the tribe of Judah, but he is named after the patriarch of a different tribe, one that always rivaled Judah for leadership of the Twelve Tribes of Israel (see Gen. 49:10,26). Like Joseph of the coat-of many-colors fame, St. Joseph is particularly open to communication from God and receives revelatory dreams that involve traveling to Egypt and preserving God’s people from harm. In this period of salvation history, the safety of the Holy family and thus the preservation of hope of salvation for the entire human family is in St. Joseph’s hands. Mary is immaculate, the child Jesus is divine. In this way, St. Joseph is a type of believer.

What does the Scripture highlight about St. Joseph? What qualities does it put forward as the virtues that made St. Joseph successful in the role God called him? We know of two qualities in this passage: (1) He was open to hearing the voice of God, and (2) he was prompt in obedience.

Particularly speaking, being open to hearing the voice of God in our own lives usually requires certain habits, among which we may list: (1) devoting adequate time to prayer, including silence in prayer when we can let our hearts be moved by God; (2) reading and meditating on Scripture, through which God speaks to us; (3) seeking the counsel of a holy confessor or Spiritual Director, (4) practicing penance and (at least small) mortifications, through which we develop detachment from the material goods and pleasures that often dull our spiritual senses.

St. Joseph sets the example for all Christians, particularly fathers; and for all believers generally, how to hear God’s voice and obey it. 

St. Joseph, pray for us!

[Portions were taken from Reflections on Sunday Readings from Dr. John Bergsma]

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Vincent Clemente