The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with the faith of our ancestors in salvation history who lived trusting in God’s plan with awe and wonder.
The reading from the Second Book of Samuel is the Oracle of Nathan.
* [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. (2 Samuel, CHAPTER 7, n.d.)
Psalm 89 praises God’s Covenant with David.
* [89:3–5] David’s dynasty is to be as long-lasting as the heavens, a statement reinforced by using the same verbs (establish, stand) both of the divine love and loyalty and of the Davidic dynasty and throne, cf. Ps 89:29–30. (Psalms, PSALM 89, n.d.)
The reading from the Letter of Paul 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.
* [4:20] He did not doubt God’s promise in unbelief: any doubts Abraham might have had were resolved in commitment to God’s promise. Heb 11:8–12 emphasizes the faith of Abraham and Sarah. (Romans, CHAPTER 4, n.d.)
The Gospel of Matthew describes Joseph’s decision about the Birth of Jesus the Messiah.
* [1:18–25] This first story of the infancy narrative spells out what is summarily indicated in Mt 1:16. The virginal conception of Jesus is the work of the Spirit of God. Joseph’s decision to divorce Mary is overcome by the heavenly command that he take her into his home and accept the child as his own. The natural genealogical line is broken but the promises to David are fulfilled; through Joseph’s adoption the child belongs to the family of David. Matthew sees the virginal conception as the fulfillment of Is 7:14. (Matthew, CHAPTER 1, n.d.)
David Crawford comments that how Joseph responded throughout this situation provides a good model for us, especially since his actions are evidence of traits that God values.
Joseph was merciful. When he decided to divorce Mary, he was “unwilling to expose her to shame.” Even at a time when (in Joseph’s mind) he had been wronged by his betrothed, when he may have been embarrassed, angry, or hurt, Joseph was merciful.
Joseph was obedient. When God’s message came in his dream, Joseph responded immediately, “Yes.” Having done so, Joseph was on hand to take the young, pregnant Mary to Bethlehem; to be with Mary as they received present-bearing dignitaries from the East; to flee with Mary and Jesus to Egypt; to return to Israel later to help raise the boy; and (as we see in the Luke reading) to lead the family in religious observances, like yearly trips to Jerusalem at Passover.
Joseph was faithful. Matthew describes Joseph as “a righteous man,” and it helps me to consider that phrase in concert with today’s second reading from Romans about Abraham’s righteousness. In Paul’s writing, righteousness that comes from faith is preferable to righteousness associated with following the law. As a faithful individual, Joseph recognized and responded to God’s message, without worrying about what other “righteous” folks might think, and without worrying about how God’s plans conflicted with his own.
Joseph was sufficient. By that I mean, Joseph was sufficient because God made him sufficient. As Paul writes at the beginning of 2 Corinthians 3, none of us are sufficient on our own. Rather, our sufficiency is from God. (Crawford, 2023)
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) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22 comments that in each situation, the odds always seemed stacked against him, but Joseph continued on. He placed his faith in the Lord and found the grace to stand firm. Or to quote today’s first reading, Joseph, like Abraham before him, “believed, hoping against hope” (Romans 4:18). And he was never disappointed.
That’s the power of faith: it can sustain us and fill us with hope, no matter what we are facing. Financial hardship, family infighting, racial prejudice, chronic illness, you name it. We’ve all faced, or are facing now, situations that appear hopeless. We’ve all faced, or are facing now, the temptation to give up.
So thank God for this poor, silent carpenter from Nazareth! Thank God for his witness of deep trust in the Lord! May we all follow in his footsteps and, through his intercession, find the grace to continue hoping against hope.
“St. Joseph, watchful guardian of the Holy Family, teach me to live in unwavering hope!” (Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22, n.d.)
James Hanvey SJ, Secretary for the Service of the Faith for the Society of Jesus, finds Joseph stepping out of the shadows in the history of salvation, and inviting us into the light of the Christ child in a 17th century painting.
https://www.thinkingfaith.org/sites/default/files/styles/article_full_687/public/field/image/20201225_1renijoseph.jpgAnd so, in this portrait of Joseph and the Christ child, Reni not only binds them together in a mutual gaze, he places them in a circle of light that their love for each other creates. It is defined by the flow of Joseph’s cloak in which they are both wrapped – suggestive of its own type of manger and swaddling bands. It is a circle of light which the darkness does not disturb nor penetrate. Through faith and love, Joseph is inviting us to enter the circle; to see and wonder at the God who has made himself a child who needs to be held.
In our world of absentee fathers and confused masculinities, Reni gives us a portrait of a tender strength at the service of a vulnerable life. He has given us the portrait of a just man who is not afraid to remain hidden, but on whose fidelity and courage we can depend. He has given us a glimpse of a father’s heart. (Hanvey, 2020)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the attitude of David that borders on “doing God a favour” even as Nathan presents the Dynastic Oracle. Mary, betrothed to Joseph and with child may have been subject to death for adultery but Joseph has decided to divorce her quietly before he accepts the dream revelation of “Jesus, Yeshua, Yahweh saves.” Friar Jude reminds us of Jesus establishing compassion as the new definition of righteousness.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, describes how a beginner’s mind opens us to awe, wonder, and true presence with God and others. Author Cole Arthur Riley identifies the freedom available to us when we return to childlike awe and wonder.
Children are made of awe. We have much to learn from them, but we seldom aim to. When we encounter the freedom of a child, we can choose to participate in their liberation, or we can grow to resent the freedom in them. The words childish and juvenile are made derogatory as we become overly concerned with the serious. It is a feigned superiority. The tragedy is that as we distance ourselves from the delight of our youth, we become increasingly prone to disillusionment. Wonder and beauty are not precise cures for disillusionment, but they certainly can stave off the despair of it. To reclaim the awe of our child-selves, to allow ourselves to be taken by the beauty of a thing, allows goodness to take up the space it’s often denied in our interior worlds…. (Riley, 2023)
We are prompted by the Spirit to experience the Presence of God in the caring and compassion we share with our companions on our journey.
References
Crawford, D. (2023, March 20). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/032023.html
Hanvey, J. (2020, December 25). Painted spaces: Art for a Covid-Christmas. 4. 'Saint Joseph and the Christ Child' by Guido Reni. Thinking Faith. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/painted-spaces-art-covid-christmas-4-%E2%80%98saint-joseph-and-christ-child%E2%80%99-guido-reni
Matthew, CHAPTER 1. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/1?16
Psalms, PSALM 89. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/89?2
Riley, C. A. (2023, March 20). Be Present as a Child — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/be-present-as-a-child-2023-03-20/
Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/03/20/634498/
Romans, CHAPTER 4. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/4?13
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=mar20a
2 Samuel, CHAPTER 7. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2samuel/7?4
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