Joseph: An Advent Reflection

As we enter the second week of Advent, and continue look to the Nativity for inspiration, let us draw our attention to St. Joseph.

In writing about fatherhood for the past few years, Joseph was the focus of much attention and as a result, inspiration. For someone who has not one word captured in scripture, there is still much to learn from this earthly father of Jesus.

We can imagine Joseph accompanying Mary to Bethlehem, securing that he is providing all that he can, as limited as he may have been. We can see Joseph desperately knocking on the doors of the inns, trying to find shelter for his beloved and soon-to-be-born child. We can even imagine Joseph holding his son as Mary rests after bringing Christ into the world.

It is difficult to assess the love of a couple with external eyes. We catch glimpses of it, but only the couple can appreciate the true depth of their love.

For Joseph and Mary, there are the above glimpses, but if we go back a few months earlier, we find even greater proof of their love, particularly, the love Joseph has for Mary.

When Mary, who was only 14 years old, tells Joseph that she is pregnant, the reaction from Joseph had to be anger, confusion, and sadness. He must have felt betrayed by this woman who he committed to marry.

It was expected that he would expose Mary to their community, and she would have been surely stoned to death.

Scripture tells us: “Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. (Matthew 1:19).”

Joseph was “faithful to the law”, but he was also faithful to Mary. He loved her. He wanted to protect her, even as his emotions likely urged him to do otherwise. Any one of us who have been betrayed in a relationship can understand the hurt caused by a violation of trust and the despair of losing a love that is forever changed. Joseph may have required an angel’s visit in his dreams to understand what was happening, but his love for Mary never wavered.

Those of us who are “religious” must also wrestle at times with the tension of law and love. We see it often in our Churches and religious institutions where we may struggle with teachings and rules that exclude in the name of “the law.” We see it in our society, too, where vulnerable groups are persecuted in the name of “the law” of the land.

Perhaps Joseph is inviting us this Advent season to pause and discern how we are in relationship with others, those who have hurt us, those who are different, those who we cannot understand or fully appreciate. How might we see with the eyes of this great saint, learning to love more deeply.

Let us reflect on the love Joseph felt for Mary. Let us wrestle with the tension of the law and love, and let us, too, seek divine inspiration to fully understand the ways of our God.