for March 19, 2020
Feast of St. Joseph

Many years ago, a woman approached me after Mass with a question: “Where in the bible,” she asked, “can we find the story of Joseph’s death in the arms of Jesus with Mary at his side?” She was thinking, of course, of the pious devotion to Joseph as “the patron of a happy death.” I had to tell her that there was no such account in the bible, which provoked disbelief in her and annoyance at me. But it wasn’t my fault!

What we actually know from the bible about Joseph is quite limited, but nevertheless richly provocative. Almost all the content is in the first two chapters of Matthew’s gospel.

Joseph, we are told, was a “just man,” at least that’s my favorite translation because it’s such a loaded biblical phrase. In the rather sterile language of formal biblical theology, it means that Joseph was in “an upright or proper relationship with God.” Think of what is really behind those words: Intimacy with God in prayer. Responsive to all God’s graces. A heart on fire with the love of God. Gentle in his compassion but fiercely loyal to his respect and care for others. Joseph, we are told, was such a man.

The other attribute Matthew reveals about Joseph was that he was a man of dreams. That, too, is highly symbolic in biblical imagery. It means that Joseph could discern clearly what God was calling him to do and had the imagination to transform the vision into action, quickly and efficiently. In doing this, Joseph had the courage to put aside his own interests in response to the needs of others. Notice the pattern Matthew uses to communicate this aspect of Joseph’s character: “The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said . . .” followed immediately by: “When Joseph woke up he did what the angel told him to do.” Talk about decisive! And Matthew repeats the pattern four times in the telling of Joseph’s story.

After that, Joseph pretty much departs from the scene. We hear almost nothing more about him in the Gospels.

There is much to admire in Joseph. For us, in these critical times, it is important that we reaffirm our “upright and proper” relationship with the Lord. It’s a time, therefore, to deepen our trust in God’s providence and open ourselves more deeply to the impetus of grace that leads us to a caring attitude toward others. The dreams that intrude on our consciousness may seem more like nightmares when our days are so troubled, but we must sort through them to find the genuine voice of God and then discern what we are really called to do. Each of us, as we grow in our awareness of how we are genuinely all related and all in this together, has a part to play. And then we must have the courage actually to carry it out, with determination and steadfastness. 

That’s what the bible tells us about Joseph—all in just two short chapters in the gospel of Matthew. —Walter F. Modrys SJ

Each day’s readings are available here at the US Catholic Conference of Bishops’ website.