Growing up I always felt sorry for Joseph. There is one verse in the bible where even Jesus says to him, “I am going about my father’s work,” not meaning Joseph but God’s. No telling how many people reminded him over the years of the fact that Mary was pregnant by another and gave him grief and heaped ridicule on him. I bet he was the butt of a lot of jokes. Little was written about it, but Joseph seemed to care less about what people said. He certainly raised one hell of a son, one that would make any father proud. But he also showed remarkable courage — not by walking into a lion’s den or slaying a giant — but by standing up to social pressure and doing the right thing.
Each of us faces times when we have to take sides. There are times when we face ridicule or being ostracized by society for doing the right thing. These are not easy choices because we live in a very judgmental and cruel world. During those times look to Joseph as a model. Simply standing by someone you love when the world says walk away is an act of tremendous courage and bravery.
On this Christmas eve, we remember a lot about the manger scene. Let’s not forget to throw a thought or two Joseph’s way. In his silence, in his loyalty, in his refusal to go with the crowd, he was just as brave as Daniel or David, maybe even more so.
Merry Christmas!
One of the most moving and revealing experiences of our trip to the Holy Lands four years ago was staying in a convent in Nazareth which was dedicated to and was associated with “Josepth the Just.” It was revealed that it was built over ruins of a very, very early Christian era church and home, that had long been associated with Joseph’s family. So he was revered early, and there was even early written testimony of pilgrims visiting such a site. However, I believe he gets short shrift, too!
Blessings of this season, Joanne
That is fascinating. Merry Christmas! W.