The Feast of Saint Joseph
The Feast of Saint Joseph
Today we celebrate another feast day: the feast of Saint Joseph, the father of Jesus. How perfectly appropriate that he falls right in with our other saint spotlights!
On multiple occasions we read that Joseph was spoken to in a dreams—which is highly reminiscent of an earlier Joseph, also a dreamer. OT Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers in an act of jealousy. He ended up being their salvation when famine struck the land.1
Likewise, NT Joseph would take his son to Egypt to be protected from the mass-murder decree issued by Herod, an equally jealous character. Joseph would eventually come out of Egypt with his young son who would one day bring everlasting salvation. Coincidence? I think not!
Joseph’s Four Dreams
The first dream Joseph had was with regards to Mary’s pregnancy.2 He was planning to divorce her quietly, and yet the angel told him that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. It is in this first dream that Joseph is told her will name the baby Jesus. And Joseph didn’t even question any of this! (If that’s not faith, then I don’t know what is!)
The second dream Joseph had was about moving his family to Egypt.3 Again, he immediately responds without question. He moves to Egypt in trusting obedience.
The third dream Joseph had was when the angel appeared again to tell him that it was safe to move his family home.4 This fulfills a prophecy that “out of Egypt I called my son”5 which parallels both the Old Testament story and the New Testament story.
In the final dream that Joseph has, he is warned not to return to Judea so instead he takes his family and moves to the land of Galilee, to Nazareth. His obedience here again fulfills a prophecy that he would be called a Nazarene.6
Fatherly Love
Saint Joseph is an incredible example of faithfulness and attentiveness to God’s voice. He is always obedient and it is through this obedience that he protects his virgin wife and child and many prophecies are fulfilled.
We can learn a lot from Saint Joseph and be especially grateful for his role as guardian of the Saviour during his most vulnerable years. Saint Joseph’s fatherly care for Jesus is an optimal example of what our Heavenly Father is like—he protects us, he is faithful to us and he loves us deeply as his adopted sons and daughters.
Preparing Our Hearts
Joseph is a man of action—he hears God and he immediately responds. How many of us are that quick to respond? How often do we hesitate—much like Saint Augustine yesterday? In what ways is God calling us into deeper obedience and what can Saint Joseph teach us about how to respond?