Acting on God’s Word
St. Joseph’s role in Jesus’ life as His father-figure was crucial. By taking Our Mother’s hand in marriage and serving as a leader in the royal family, he was a guide and protector to our Savior and His Mother in their most dangerous days. Scripture describes him as “a righteous man” (Matthew 1:19), hence why he was entrusted with such an honorable and essential role in Lord Jesus’ life. St. Joseph’s character and role in God’s plan are revealed by his preparation for the birth of Christ and his response to God’s orders. By observing his actions, we may then learn much about how we should act with humility and readiness—qualities which helped St. Joseph prepare the way for Jesus’ coming.
By reflecting on what God worked through St. Joseph, as the protector of his family, we may attentively shape our hearts to triumph through the hardships that test our faith. St. Joseph’s willingness to act quickly, wisely, and selflessly is an excellent model of faith, especially in fatherhood. He was responsible and acted immediately when he understood what God commanded of him, such as when he received a visitation from an angel warning of Herod’s plan to kill Jesus. The angel commanded St. Joseph to take Lord Jesus and Mother Mary to flee to Egypt. He wasted no time, and the royal family was gone before the sun even rose on that day. St. Joseph’s love for his family and reverence for God’s messenger drove him to act quickly and effectively, leading himself and his family to safety. This swift response is exactly how Christians, especially fathers, should respond to the Lord's commands.
St. Joseph also demonstrated high humility by trusting God’s messenger. Though Joseph had never had any marital relations with the Virgin Mary in his life, one day he saw that she was pregnant. Thinking she had betrayed their marriage, St. Joseph planned to end the marriage quietly. But then he received a visit from an angel, who told him that Mary’s pregnancy was “through the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:20). Knowing of God’s goodness, St. Joseph immediately recognized that this meant that the Blessed Virgin’s conception of the child was not of normal causation. He did not think himself to be incapable of being part of such a holy circumstance, nor did he grow conceited about his role in God’s plan. Rather, he willed simply to do as he was instructed and to believe what had been revealed to him by the angel. This humbling of himself, so that he might see what God revealed to him, is an incredible act of humility that believers should aspire to emulate.
St. Joseph modeled the way of upright behavior not only to the Lord Jesus in daily life, but also to us in how he responded to God’s call to holiness and action. As the father of the Holy Family, he is, in turn, our spiritual father as well. Through his role as father of the Holy Family, he became an exemplary model of upright behavior, especially for fathers all around the world to this day.
Through protective love for his family, a calling to act, and trust in God, St. Joseph helped cultivate a secure situation for the coming of Christ, even in a dangerous place. When we navigate difficult situations that test our faith, we might ask ourselves, “How did Joseph respond to the angel’s warning of Herod?” We can also ask, “How did Joseph’s paternal love for his family influence how he treated them?” By meditating on how St. Joseph cared for his family and on his immense faith in God, we can prepare our hearts for Jesus in the same manner as St. Joseph.