Joseph had four dreams all of which come from the period around the Nativity of Jesus and his early life, between the onset of Mary's pregnancy and the family's return from the Flight to Egypt.
In the first dream (Matthew 1:20-21), Joseph is told not be afraid to take Mary as his wife, because she has conceived by the Holy Spirit. In the second (Matthew 2:13), Joseph is warned to leave Bethlehem and flee to Egypt. In the third (Matthew 2:19-20), while in Egypt, he is told that it is safe to go back to Israel. Finally, in the fourth (Matthew 2:22), because he had been warned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee instead of going to Judea.
By emphasising their need for direct divine guidance, Joseph’s dreams indicate how far from normal life Mary and Joseph were asked to go by God in the Nativity of Christ. They are, therefore, a key example in scripture of people living wholly by faith with no human reference points to direct them in doing what God had asked them to do. In doing so we are also shown grace, as the Nativity and the salvation which leads from it are entirely instigated by God, Mary and Joseph lend obedient support although they don’t fully understand what God is doing.
In church tradition Joseph is a silent saint, given the noble task of caring and watching over the Virgin Mary and Jesus, who now cares for and watches over the Church and models for all the dignity of human work. The tools of his trade as a carpenter are what he uses to maintain his family. Once God has given direction, and that direction has been accepted by faith, Joseph then utilises his human skills and abilities in support of God’s plan for humanity. To adopt a phrase used by the American poet Delmore Schwartz, for Joseph, in dreams begin responsibilities.
He selflessly devotes his life to caring for God's son on earth. A carpenter by trade, he has become the patron saint of fathers and of workers. His feast days are celebrated on 19th March and 1st May, the latter feast of St. Joseph the Worker having been instituted by Pope Pius XII in 1955.
Jesus learnt the carpentry trade from Saint Joseph and spent his early adult years working side-by-side in Joseph’s carpentry shop before leaving to pursue his ministry as preacher and healer. In his encyclical Laborem Exercens, Pope John Paul II stated: “the Church considers it her task always to call attention to the dignity and rights of those who work, to condemn situations in which that dignity and those rights are violated, and to help to guide [social] changes so as to ensure authentic progress by man and society.”
Joseph is held up as a model of such work. Pius XII emphasized this when he said, “The spirit flows to you and to all men from the heart of the God-man, Saviour of the world, but certainly, no worker was ever more completely and profoundly penetrated by it than the foster father of Jesus, who lived with Him in closest intimacy and community of family life and work.”
Joseph is an example to us because his calling was to quietly support the calling of Mary – to marry her, to name the child, to raise him: ‘Joseph simply does as he was told. For him, belief is action. Quietly, Joseph cared for Mary. Quietly, he raised the child and named him Jesus. Quietly, he believed and acted.’
Joseph must have had the patience of a saint, as it must have taken an incredible amount of patience to follow God's plan, and to support his wife throughout their trials and tribulations. He was also the epitome of discretion. Despite the miraculous circumstances of Jesus' conception, he kept Mary's secret safe, showing incredible respect for her and her divine calling. He diligently provided for the physical and emotional needs of his family. He worked to ensure their safety and sustenance. He humbly accepted God's will and obediently followed His guidance, even when it meant facing challenges and uncertainties. His humility allowed him to support Mary in her unique calling without seeking recognition or glory for himself. These are all great qualities that we can take into our own experiences of supporting and caring for others.
To end, here’s a short poem by Madeleine L’Engle imagining Mary speaking about Joseph, her spouse.
It was from Joseph first I learned
of love. Like me he was dismayed.
How easily he could have turned
me from his house; but, unafraid,
he put me not away from him
(O God-sent angel, pray for him).
Thus through his love was Love obeyed.
The Child’s first cry came like a bell:
God’s Word aloud, God’s Word in deed.
The angel spoke: so it befell,
and Joseph with me in my need.
O Child whose father came from heaven,
to you another gift was given,
your earthly father chosen well.
With Joseph I was always warmed
and cherished. Even in the stable
I knew that I would not be harmed.
And, though above the angels swarmed,
man’s love it was that made me able
to bear God’s love, wild, formidable,
to bear God’s will, through me performed.
Joseph, by the work of your hands
and the sweat of your brow,
you supported Jesus and Mary,
and had the Son of God as your fellow worker.
Teach us to work as you did,
with patience and perseverance, for God and
for those whom God has given us to support.
Teach us to see in our colleagues
the Christ who desires to be in them,
that we may always be charitable and forbearing
towards all.
Amen.
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Bill Fay - Salt Of The Earth.
