Joseph: an Ordinary Man Who Lived in an Extraordinary Way

Feast of St. Joseph: March 19

Introduction

When we hear the name Joseph what image comes to mind? Maybe it is that of the actor Donny Osborne flying over the audience in his coat of many colours? Or it may be the name of a relative or friend called Joseph. It may even be your own name.

This name comes from the Bible. The Feast of St. Joseph, which we celebrate on March 19th, is about Joseph, the husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus. St. Joseph has also been chosen to be the special protector or patron of the whole Church, of Canada and of The Sisters of St. Joseph who bear his name.

What We Know

But what do we know about Joseph? Scripture tells us very little about him. He was a righteous (just) man (Matthew 1:18) He was a carpenter (Matthew 13:55) No spoken word of his is recorded anywhere. However we can know about his life in the context of his family milieu where he nourished and nurtured Jesus. Oral history and tradition in the life and ministry of Jesus gives us a glimpse of the father-son relationship. For example, notice the anxiety of Joseph as a parent when his young teenage son was lost for three days. Yet, Joseph displays an extraordinary faith even when he does not understand the reason given by his son, "I'm about my father's business." What a mystery for Dad to ponder and accept!

Relationship with Jesus

The Oblate priest Rene Fumoleau, in his poem "Joseph," reflects on a conversation that might have taken place between them during their days together in Nazareth when Jesus was growing up:

My boy and I, hand in hand, we used to climb the hill behind Nazareth.
We honoured sunrise and sunset; we felt the breeze, we watched the stars.
One evening, Mary wondered: "Why were you so long? What were you doing?"
Jesus answered: "Daddy showed me how to be alive as the clouds and the olive trees are alive."

What sustained Joseph

This ordinary nature walk and conversation between father and son takes on special meaning in light of Jesus' future ministry. Yet, the extraordinary quiet trust in God's providence and loving care must have sustained Joseph as, with Mary, he pondered all these things in his heart.

Indeed Joseph was a simple, honest man of faith who lived an ordinary life as a carpenter in an extraordinary way, always trusting in God's loving care for him and his family, even though he did not always understand. What a model for us to be under his protection as a country, as a church and as a Congregation of Sisters of St. Joseph.

What scripture says

Jacob was the father of Joseph, husband of Mary. It was of her that Jesus, who is called the Messiah, was born.
Matthew 1:16

Is not this the son of Joseph the carpenter?
Luke 4:22

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee names Nazareth to a Virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph of the house of David.
Luke 1:26-27

From the Scripture quotes above we see that Joseph's family can be traced back through the greatest ancient patriarchs. However, it is not his extraordinary heritage that makes him great before God or in our eyes. Rather it is his holiness, his humility, his faith and trust in accepting his ordinary day-to-day life that makes him great in God's sight.

Reflection

Think of Joseph's life in Nazareth. Visualize a day in his carpenter's workshop, teaching Jesus some carpenter skills. Write out a dialogue that might have taken place between them. Place yourself in the scene. What do you observe about this father-son relationship?

It is not easy to recognize God's will in the ordinary events of each day and yet it is often in these events that God is most present to us, sometimes in obscure, hidden ways. Joseph did not have answers in his ordinary day-to-day life but lived the questions in the untold mystery of God's love in an extraordinary way.

Response

• In my daily life, how do I recognize God's presence in ordinary events? In ordinary people?
• How sensitive am I to God's voice speaking to me in the people, events and challenges of each day?

Prayer

St. Joseph, patron of the Universal Church, help me be more aware of God's presence in the ordinary, so that like you, I may respond in an extraordinary way to God's call in my life.

For other prayers, see this page