Today, the Church remembers St. Joseph, the husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus.
Ora pro nobis.
Joseph was presented with a difficult choice when his betrothed, Mary, was discovered to be pregnant. He had every right to renounce her and refuse to marry her. Had he done so, the consequences would have been severe for Mary, even deadly, and therefore the same for her unborn child, Jesus. The wondrous mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God, Jesus, is often portrayed as only being dependent on Mary saying "yes" to God. The truth is, it also took Joseph saying "yes" to God, and the both of them together facing a life of being questioned, ridiculed, and misunderstood by their families and their communities. Joseph trusted God and said “yes”, and was was therefore entrusted with raising the baby Jesus, and teaching him to become a faithful and loving man. Yes, the Incarnate Son of God, his own Lord and Messiah, needed him. Imagine the blessing, the challenge, and the wonder of such a calling.
Thanks be to God, Joseph said "yes" to God, even knowing the consequences of saying "yes" would result in a very difficult life.
Blessed Joseph, pray for us all, that we also might have the faith and the courage to say "yes" when God asks of us things that we do not understand, or things that we do understand that will put us in compromising circumstances, perhaps for the remainder of our earthly lives. Pray that we will be willing to allow our lives to be complicated by God, and to see with eyes of faith and wonder, especially when times are difficult and our lives bewildering.
O God, who from the family of your servant David raised up Joseph to be the guardian of your incarnate Son and the spouse of his virgin mother: Give us grace to imitate his uprightness of life and his obedience to your commands; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
