2^nd Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16 Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22

The Joseph of Matthew’s Gospel is a parallel, in literary and theological terms, to the Patriarch Joseph in the Book of Genesis. The Patriarch Joseph was one of the 12 sons of Jacob of whom his brothers were severely jealous because he was his father’s favorite son. His brothers sold him into slavery, whereby he ended up in Egypt, and where, in turn, he eventually impressed Pharaoh with his ability to interpret dreams. So, he rose through the ranks of leadership to the position of Grand Vizier to Pharaoh. It was in that capacity that he was able to welcome his 11 brothers and their families to Egypt during a great famine many years later. Joseph, with a wry and slightly vindictive sense of humor, was the Israelites’ hero and savior in practical terms (see Genesis 37–46). The New Testament’s Joseph has no speaking parts, but interprets directions received in angelic dreams four times in Matthew’s Infancy Narrative. Those dreams instructed him to accept the pregnant Mary as his wife and then to save the child Jesus and his mother by moving to Egypt, the second time that Israel’s future depended on that land as a refuge. Further dreams brought the holy family back to Palestine, eventually to settle in Nazareth. The Old Testament Joseph and the New Testament Joseph are parental savior characters in the rise, evolution and success of important members of God’s Chosen People through whom salvation is made possible to many others. With all this in mind, we reflect on Joseph, the Husband of Mary, who’s life task was to be the foster father of Jesus the Messiah, a practical savior of the Savior.

Nathan succeeded Samuel as Court Prophet sometime after David succeeded Saul as King of Israel. Nathan became David’s conscience and seer, his source of wisdom and encouragement. At life’s end, Nathan was both comforter to David and co-conspirator with Bathsheba who together engineered Solomon’s succession to David’s throne. Aside from being a liar, a murderer and an adulterer, David was a fine and upright man, indeed, much loved by God! He needed great consolation at his life’s end which Nathan provided by conveying to him God’s promise that his “house” would endure forever. “House” was a larger than usual concept of family extending through succeeding generations. Indeed, in it’s original context, the promise sounded like the kingdom of David could last forever. But, meanings evolve and adjust with circumstances. The House of David, which included both kingdoms of Israel and Judah, eventually came to mean the People Israel, even after the demise of the two kingdoms. Today, through the eyes and imaginations of Christian reinterpretation, the term has broadened to mean any and all who worship and embrace the God of Israel as proclaimed by Jesus, including both Jews and Gentiles. Thus, the verses from 2^nd Samuel 7 used today, get reinterpreted to describe the Church, both on Earth and in Heaven, and of course, the very Kingdom of Heaven itself. See how mythic language is flexible and adjustable for the sake of our religious imaginations!

Paul’s letter to the Romans addressed the priority of Abraham’s faith and righteousness over the Torah, i.e., the Law of Moses. For Paul, the Torah was divine instruction given through Moses in order to guide the Israelites as they received and developed a religious identity where before they had enjoyed merely an ethnic, tribal identity. But, that Torah was to be only temporary. It was provided the Israelites to assist them in imitating Abraham in righteousness, a concept which might be called “justification” or being “made worthy” by God. Abraham was considered righteous (justified or made worthy) because of the faith he demonstrated towards this new God, even in the face of the great test of sacrificing his only son. Interestingly, the Patriarch Joseph and today’s guest of honor, Joseph the husband of Mary, were each described as righteous. Indeed, even in modern Judaism, to be labeled a “righteous person” is the culture’s highest possible honor for it recognizes a virtuous life as close to God as one might ever hope to be on Earth. For Paul, Abraham was the founding father of Judaism, the righteous example of fidelity to God, and the inspiration even of the new Christian Church. Through Abraham’s great-grandson, Joseph, the Israelites survived and thrived. Through Abraham’s distant grandson Joseph’s foster-son, Jesus, came Salvation for both Israel and the whole world.

There is a choice of two Gospel texts for today’s feast. The option from Matthew repeats an abbreviated narrative of how Jesus’ birth came about. In it, Joseph is described as “a righteous man” as noted above, along with the first of his dreams containing angelic instruction. Joseph has no speaking parts in the four canonical Gospels, but his silent presence is strong, decisive and saving. His faithful presence and action insured that our future salvation would come to be as the Gospel narrative continues. The second option is Luke’s unique account of Jesus being left in Jerusalem and found in the Temple Precincts when, as a 12 year old, his parents took him up to Jerusalem on the Passover pilgrimage. The dynamic between the boy Jesus and his parents indicates something other than a trouble-free holy family, precisely what one might expect when dealing with a 12 year old child. But, the conversation’s tone aside, Jesus’ remark that “I must be in my Father’s house” was a way that the early Church hinted that even as a child, he must have begun to appreciate his messianic role in history. In fact, the issue of Jesus’ self-awareness has been debated often throughout history by keen theological minds. For us, a significant final line in the Gospel lesson gives us pause for reflection: “He went down with them ... and was obedient to them.” The great unfolding of salvation required a significant amount of quiet time. Only in the fullness of time would all be revealed. Joseph, Mary’s husband, personified that quietness, that patience, that willingness to wait for revelation to unfold appropriately. How few in history have been seen as better listeners than speakers! St. Joseph, patron saint of the Universal Church, deserved canonization by acclaim for his wise and obedient silence alone!