The Old Testament prophets always taught that the Messiah was to spring from the seed of David, the great hero-king to whom the Jews looked back with such pride. The prophecy was first declared by the prophet Nathan to King David himself: The LORD also declares to you that the LORD will make a house for you: when your days have been completed and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, sprung from your loins, and I will establish his kingdom. He it is who shall build a house for my name, and I will establish his royal throne forever. (2 Samuel 7:11-13) Joseph was of the royal blood of David. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke show the lineage of Joseph to the Davidic king. Although Jesus is not the biological son of Joseph, he is the Son of Joseph by law and therefore has a legal right to be called a descendant of King David. Joseph is called “Son of David” by the angel who instructed him to take Mary into his home (Mt 1:20). The angel reminds him of his royal ancestry and the role God had given him in the coming of the Messiah. God gives each of us a role in His plan of salvation. You were born for such a time as this (Esther 4:14). Reflect on the role God has given you and the people He has entrusted to you. St. Joseph, pray for me so that I may have the grace to carry out my role and care for the people God has entrusted to me. Pray the Litany of St. Joseph (ATTACHED). Daily Challenge: Reflect on your exalted identity as a beloved son of God the Father and how you are helping those entrusted to your care grow closer to Jesus.
St. Joseph is called the Light of the Patriarchs because he is the shining light among the forerunners of Christ. He was one of the great patriarchs in a long line of God's servants (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, etc.) who waited for the Messiah. All the patriarchs of the Old Testament foreshadowed the paternal light of God shining through the fatherhood of St. Joseph. St. Joseph is the bearer of light and helps us to receive the light of Christ. He brings Jesus, the true Light of the World, to us so that we can be a light to others. Jesus says, You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. (Mt 5:14-16) St. Joseph, pray for me so that the light of Christ illumines my life so that my words and actions glorify our heavenly Father. Pray the Litany of St. Joseph (ATTACHED). Daily Challenge: Identify one way you can be the light of Christ to those you encounter and serve this day.
The naming of a child in ancient Jewish custom was the legal responsibility of the father. Jesus had no earthly father; therefore, it belonged to His Heavenly Father to confer upon Him His name. God the Father transferred this right to Joseph, so that in His place, he should give Him the name of Jesus (Mt 1:21). In doing so, God the Father conferred to Joseph the paternal care of His Only-Begotten Son. The paternity of St. Joseph is a mystery which deserves deep reflection. We may view the announcement of the angel to Joseph as the counterpart to the Annunciation of the angel Gabriel to Mary. Joseph, like Mary, was called to his role in salvation history. In addition, St. Joseph’s role in salvation history extends to the present day. In his apparition to St. Mary Ephrem, St. Joseph reveals the following: “All fatherhood is blessed in me whom the Eternal Father chose as his representative on earth, the Virgin-Father of his own Divine Son. Through me the Heavenly Father has blessed all fatherhood, and through me he continues and will continue to do so till the end of time. My spiritual fatherhood extends to all God’s children, and together with my Virgin Spouse I watch over them with great love and solicitude.”iv In his earthly life, St. Joseph would share in many mysteries he would not understand. His life would take many twists and turns, and he would be constantly thrown into circumstances that would call for the exercise of blind, heroic trust in God. Earthly fatherhood (whether biological or spiritual) also calls for heroic trust in God. Life is filled with circumstances beyond our control. However, fathers today can take comfort in the love and spiritual fatherhood of St. Joseph. As he took care of Jesus on earth, he will take care of you too on your earthly pilgrimage. St. Joseph, pray for me to have trust in God’s plans for me and for my family, especially when times are tough. Watch over my life and be my provider and protector in a world that is filled with uncertainty. Pray the Litany of St. Joseph (ATTACHED). Daily Challenge: Turn to St. Joseph for his spiritual fatherhood and the grace of imitating his complete trust in God for every current and unforeseeable challenge in caring for your family (or your parish family).
The Scriptures pay Joseph the highest compliment: he was a “just” man. By saying Joseph was “just,” the Scriptures reveal that he was completely open to all that God wanted to do for him. He became holy by opening himself totally to God. Joseph was also a righteous man--a man of honesty, integrity, and virtue. St. Joseph is the greatest and holiest saint after the Blessed Mother herself. In fact, some of the Doctors of the Church said that there was no grace ever given to any of the Saints (except Mary) that was not given to St. Joseph as well. The virtue of justice involves “giving to another his due.” For example, in our relationship with God, we owe it to Him to be grateful for our existence, to praise Him for His goodness, and to have gratitude for the many ways He has blessed us. In our relationship with others, it means treating family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, parishioners, and all people with love, dignity, and respect. Remember what Jesus says: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Lk 6:31) St. Thomas Aquinas says that God gives grace proportionate to our office and to our state in life. So, if you are a husband and father, you will be given the grace to be a holy husband and father. If you are an ordained priest, you will be given the grace to be a priest and spiritual father to your people. Imagine how much grace St. Joseph received to be the foster father of the Son of God and the spouse of the Mother of God! However, being a just person doesn’t happen automatically. It takes a specific attitude and mindset to want to do what is right and desire to receive God’s grace. We should ask ourselves, “Do I want to do what’s right in the sight of God? Am I open to God’s grace to transform my heart and mind to grow in the virtue of justice? Do I want to develop the integrity and character of St. Joseph?” St. Joseph, Most Just, pray that I may grow in the virtue of justice. Help me to examine my life to see if I am really open to all that God wants of me. Pray the Litany of St. Joseph (ATTACHED). Daily Challenge: Resolve to be completely truthful and just in every interaction you have this day.
