such a mensch

Joseph is such a mensch. This statement is probably more Yiddish than part of the Jewish culture into which Jesus was born. It does however provide an understanding of the man in salvation history who responded to the invitation of God to be Protector of the Holy Family. The texts from the RomanCatholic Lectionary today tell of annunciation of the presence of God among us. The Prophet Isaiah addresses King Ahaz with a proposal to return to the traditional trust of the Israelites in Providence. The path for the King to return would be assisted by a sign in the naming of a child as “Emmanuel” or “God is with us”. Friar Jude Winkler notes that this child was likely one of Isaiah’s sons. Friar Jude also comments that the beginning of the Letter to the Romans in the texts today was an initiative by Paul to reassure the people of Jerusalem, who may have had difficulty with the way Paul treated Jewish custom in the letter to the Galatians that he is still preaching about Jesus as the Messiah of Jewish tradition. Custom, culture and tradition can both support and erode faith in God. The example of Joseph in the Gospel from Matthew is one which identifies the struggle we may face to go beyond the boundaries for righteousness which family, culture and religious tradition may have created for their own protection. Alyce M. McKenzie presents Joseph as a model of faith in hopeful outcomes to hopeless dilemmas. The Gospel identifies Joseph as a righteous man, a mensch. He knows that the family, culture and religious law meant that Mary is to be divorced. Professor McKenzie expresses the despair and confusion he brought to bed on the night that the angel announced to him the dream which would protect Mary and give him the quiet and essential role of parenting Jesus who he could name, in the tradition of Isaiah, “Emmanuel”. Many members of the Chuch have expressed joy about the recent decision by Pope Francis that the name of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary is henceforth to be added to Eucharistic Prayers II, III, IV. May this daily liturgical reminder of the quiet and effective Joseph who trusted God to inform righteousness with compassion call us to be” more than mensch” with the help of God in our relationships with others.