The Righteous Joseph

(Matthew 2:13-23) (32nd Sunday after Pentecost; Sunday after Nativity)

Let us consider the righteous Joseph.

It’s an interesting, and in some ways an anomalous, situation. He is betrothed – sort of married, but not actually married – to Mary, the Lady Theotokos, the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ. As such, in “normal” or “ordinary” circumstances, Joseph would be the father of her child; certainly, on one level, we can say that the righteous Joseph is the “stepfather” of our Lord.

I feel a bit qualified to say something about that role in family life. Just as giving birth is not the epitome, but only the start, of motherhood, so, too, is paternity only the start of being a father. Being a father, as it is for being a mother, means being there, loving, guiding, teaching by word and by example, and, when there is need, disciplining. A father provides for his family in many ways; usually, as the one who provides the means to obtain the things needed for life – food, clothing, shelter, and so on. It’s the father who gets up to check things out when something goes “bump” in the middle of the night; and who deals with the difficult or dangerous situations that arise. Sons need fathers to show them how to be men; and daughters need fathers to show them a father’s love and guidance, and patience, and strength – and how powerful an influence is a father’s faithfulness, especially in worshipping and serving God. All of us who are fathers have a most important responsibility: our children, and even our wives, are able to see and relate to God as our heavenly Father to the extent that we recognize that we stand in His place, and show Him forth to those around us. That’s why we’re the “head of the household” – and that’s how we’re supposed to be: over the household as God is head over all: loving, patient, forgiving, and merciful; protecting and providing for those in His care.

The righteous Joseph did these things for his family: loving Mary, and the Child she bore, and laboring to provide for their earthly needs. We know he was devout and faithful; that led the elders to select him to protect and provide for Mary to begin with. We know that he was gentle and forgiving; when he suspected that Mary had conceived a child outside of their union, he might have accused her publicly, and brought her to be stoned to death. But he resolved instead to act mercifully, charitably; and, when the angel appeared to him with the instruction not to put her away, but to take her to be his wife, he was faithful once more in following the leadership of God.

And so it is as danger approaches, as Herod, determined to keep his throne against this “usurper” who has been born, gives the order for the male children of Bethlehem to be executed. The angel comes to Joseph, and tells him to take the Child and His mother into Egypt. He obeys, once more acting as the protector and guardian appointed by God for His Son and the woman who gave Him birth. There, he provides fro them until it is safe to return. I think we can say without fear of error that the character of our Lord in His humanity benefited greatly from the example He received by the life and witness of the righteous Joseph.

Each of us can learn from him, as well. In a way, when we continue in our sins, we who are made in the image and after the likeness of God, and have received His life in Holy Baptism, we become like Herod, seeking to destroy the One Who is to rule over us, so that we can continue to indulge ourselves without being thrust off the throne of our control of our lives. As the righteous Joseph acted to protect our Lord and His mother by fleeing with them to Egypt, we, too, should protect the faith implanted in us by repenting of our sins, and confessing them. As he took the Child and His mother to Egypt, we, too, should take our Lord Jesus once more into our hearts, and the Lady Theotokos with Him, never separating the Child from His mother – and dwell in peace with them there, laboring to provide what is needed for Him to grow stronger within us. As the righteous Joseph returned with our Lord and His mother to his native land when the angel declared it was safe to do so, we also should do what we can to make Christ present, in and through our lives, to the world around us.

Brothers and sisters: Through the prayers of the righteous Joseph, of his son, James, the brother of our Lord, and of the holy prophet King David, the ancestor of Christ, may He Who, for our sake was born in a cave and lay in a manger for our salvation be also born and live in our hearts; to the glory of His name, and the salvation of our souls.

Christ is born!