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March 19, 2007
St. Joseph the guardian of the Holy Family
Today is March 19, the feast of St. Joseph, the quiet saint who realized the dreams for his family of Nazareth, even though the dreams were not his own. If St. Joseph were to be alive and if he did what he did two thousand years ago, we would be shocked. Who would, when engaged to be married, be content with the fact that her fiance is already pregnant with a child? Who would be willing to give up his dream and embrace children that are not his own. Only a Saint like St. Joseph could have done this.
Given the changes that families have undergone these days from a typical traditional nuclear families, to single-parent family and blended families, there are different situations in our society.
In the context of a blended family, step-dads/foster fathers have their roles in caring for their children. Imagine what they must feel? Can one go on doing God's will in caring for a child that is not their own, regardless of the responses - favorable or unfavorable that may come forth from their children. Can a step-dad give up hope of his love never being returned and say I've had enough and am giving up?
St. Joseph is a model for us all in imitation of the Lord Jesus, whom he cared for though not his own biologically. Joseph was visited in dreams and given assurance by the angel of the Lord (Matthew 1)- another type of annunciation similar to the lines of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[c] because he will save his people from their sins."
24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
25But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
The movie, "The Nativity Story" beautifully portrayed the vicissitudes that the guardian of the family undertook to protect his wife and the child she bore, the son of God. From searching for a place and finding that there was no room for them in the inn, finds a wayside place to help Mary deliver the boy child - to escaping to Egypt to avoid the wrath of Herod and protect the infant Jesus from harms way, Joseph soars high as a model - of honesty, truthfulness and being honorable, upright, just, faithful and responsible - for all husbands, fathers, step fathers in their role as protectors and guardians of the family entrusted to their care. St. Joseph's only intent was what Luke summarises about the infancy of Jesus: "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." Lk 2:52
For more on St. Joseph Read from the Oblates of St. Joseph
Posted by frleo at March 19, 2007 11:38 AM
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