The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate how obedience and compassion motivate our actions of “fatherly love” on this feast dedicated to St.Joseph.
Care and Compassion
The reading from the Second Book of Samuel is from the Oracle of Nathan that promises David that God will raise offspring after him.
* [7:8–16] The message Nathan delivers to David, called the Dynastic Oracle, is prompted by David’s intention to build a house (i.e., a temple) for the Lord, like David’s own house (i.e., palace) of cedar. David is told, in effect, not to bother building a house for the Lord; rather, the Lord will make a house for him—a dynasty, the House of David. Not only will he have descendants (v. 12) who will sit upon the throne of Israel (v. 13), their rule will last forever (vv. 13, 16); and even if they transgress the Lord’s commands, the line of David will never be removed from kingship as Saul was (cf. 1 Sm 13; 15). The oracle establishes the Davidic king as standing in relationship to the Lord as a son to a father (v. 14; cf. Ps 2:7; 89:27). The Dynastic Oracle, with cognate texts in the Scriptures, is the basis for Jewish expectations of an anointed king (1 Sm 12:3, 5), son of David (Mt 21:9); cf. Acts 2:30; Heb 1:5.1
Psalm 89 praises God’s Covenant with David.
* [Psalm 89] The community laments the defeat of the Davidic king, to whom God promised kingship as enduring as the heavens (Ps 89:2–5). The Psalm narrates how God became king of the divine beings (Ps 89:6–9) and how the Davidic king became king of earthly kings (Ps 89:20–38). Since the defeat of the king calls into question God’s promise, the community ardently prays God to be faithful to the original promise to David (Ps 89:39–52).2
The reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans declares God’s Promise is realized through Faith.
* [4:1–25] This is an expanded treatment of the significance of Abraham’s faith, which Paul discusses in Gal 3:6–18; see notes there.3
In the Gospel of Matthew, the Birth of Jesus the Messiah, is revealed to Joseph.
* [1:19] A righteous man: as a devout observer of the Mosaic law, Joseph wished to break his union with someone whom he suspected of gross violation of the law. It is commonly said that the law required him to do so, but the texts usually given in support of that view, e.g., Dt 22:20–21 do not clearly pertain to Joseph’s situation. Unwilling to expose her to shame: the penalty for proved adultery was death by stoning; cf. Dt 22:21–23.4
Cindy Murphy McMahon recommends that we read Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter about St. Joseph, Patris Corde, which means With a Father’s Heart. The insights he provides about Joseph are profound.
When we think of Joseph, it is his faith, courage and, actually, his silence that we recall. We don’t hear/read his words, but we observe many of his actions, all of which are rooted in faith. Faith in God, faith in God’s promises, faith in his role as Jesus’ father, faith in his wife, faith in his son. We have no record of God communicating with Joseph other than through dreams, so when things became difficult for Joseph and the dreams seemed faded and far away, he undoubtedly had to dig deeper and rely on his faith, and let that faith feed his courage.5
Pope Francis’, in his Apostolic Letter about St. Joseph, Patris Corde, reminds about fathers who are working for their family and who love them in a non-possessive way.
Fathers are not born, but made. A man does not become a father simply by bringing a child into the world, but by taking up the responsibility to care for that child. Whenever a man accepts responsibility for the life of another, in some way he becomes a father to that person.6
Don Schwager quotes “The character of Joseph,” from a homily by Bernard of Clairvaux, 1090-1153.
"Joseph's character and qualities can be deduced from the fact that God honored him with the title of father, and, although his doing so was a mere matter of convenience, this was what he was known as and believed to be. Joseph's own name, which as you know means "increase", supplies further indications. Call to mind the great patriarch of old who was sold into Egypt, and you will realize that it was not only his name that our saint received but also his chastity, innocence, and grace. His brothers' envy had caused the earlier Joseph to be sold and taken to Egypt, thus symbolizing the selling of Christ: the later Joseph carried Christ into Egypt, fleeing before Herod's envy... The first Joseph had the gift of interpreting dreams: the second was given a revelation of the divine plan and a share in its accomplishment. Joseph the patriarch stored up grain, not for himself but for all the people: our Joseph was given custody of the living bread from heaven to keep safe both for himself and the whole world. There is no doubt that the Joseph to whom the Savior's mother was engaged was a good and faithful man. He was, I say, the wise and faithful steward whom the Lord appointed to support his mother and care for himself in childhood, singling him out for his complete reliability to help him with his momentous plan." (Hom. 2 super Missus est, 11.16: PL 183, 69-70)7
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24 comments that for those of us who are parents, our hopes include hopes for our children’s futures. We love them and make plans and sacrifices so that they can grow up to accomplish great things—perhaps even greater things than we have achieved. But sometimes things don’t go as we had hoped. And like Joseph, we have to resort to “Plan B.”
Whether or not we are parents, we know the disappointment or confusion when God’s ways turn out to be different from our own. But just as God blessed and guided Joseph, he will guide and protect us. God sees the entire arc of our lives, from before we were conceived until eternity. He alone knows how our situations fit into his bigger plan to bless us and to bless future generations. And he is with us, even in the unclear times, even in the suffering. We may not receive an angelic message, but we can trust in God’s goodness and listen for his voice saying, “Do not be afraid” (Matthew 1:20). “Father, I let go of my plans and trust in you. St. Joseph, pray for me!”8
Friar Jude Winkler notes that the desire of David to build a Temple comes across as an arrogant act. Joseph, named for the dreamer, redefines righteousness as obedience and compassion. Friar Jude notes the emphasis of Matthew that Joseph is not the biological father of Jesus.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares the words of Ilia Delio, a Franciscan sister and scientist, and a friend, who reflects on love as the heart of the universe. Fr. Richard concludes we need to switch our thinking from “Jesus came to fulfill us” to “we have come to fulfill Christ.” We are a part of this ever-growing cosmic Christ that is coming to be in this one great big act of giving birth described in Romans 8:22. [1]
. . . Evolution is not only the universe coming to be, but it is God who is coming to be. Divine Love, poured into space-time, rises in consciousness and erupts in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, becoming the pledge of our future in the risen Christ: “I am with you always until the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20). We can read the history of our 13.7-billion-year-old universe as the rising up of Divine Love incarnate, which bursts forth in the person of Jesus, who reveals love’s urge toward wholeness through reconciliation, mercy, peace and forgiveness. Jesus is the love of God incarnate, the wholemaker who shows the way of evolution toward unity in love. . . . In Jesus, God comes to us from the future to be our future. . . .9
Our evolution as people who fulfill Christ includes transformation to the obedience and compassion modelled by Joseph.
References
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