In our gospel reading this weekend, we have an opportunity to focus on St. Joseph and his response to God’s invitation to trust.  Most scholars believe that he was only a young boy, perhaps 14 or 15 years old when he and Mary were engaged. Imagine, our entire salvation history rested on the shoulders of two teenagers who not only understood that God was with them, but who were also willing to be with God in their daily lives.

Joseph faced a real dilemma when he found out that Mary was with child, and he was not the father.  He could denounce her, which would have condemned Mary and her child to a life of poverty and shame, or he could quietly divorce her, protecting her dignity.  His heart must have been torn between the anger and disappointment.  Ultimately, he chose mercy over vengeance, and soon after, an angel appeared in his dreams and assured him of God’s presence in his life, inviting him to trust and to journey in faith.  Joseph, being a person of faith accepted God’s invitation, believing the good news that God is with us.

Like St. Joseph, all of us have wrestled with problems and faced difficult decisions.  There have been times when we were torn between our heart and head.  At times things turn out differently than we had hoped, but the important message from today’s scriptures is that God is with us.  No matter where we find ourselves on our journey, God is there beside us.  

I am going to close with a cute story about St. Joseph.  A religious education teacher was working with a group of young children.  She showed the class a picture of Mary holding the baby Jesus in a nativity scene.  A young boy asked, “Where’s St. Joseph?” to which another student quickly replied: “Who do you think took the picture, silly?”

What I love about that story is that it says so much about St. Joseph.  He committed to a life with Mary and Jesus in such a selfless way.  He and Mary worked together to provide a loving home for Jesus as he grew and matured.  While the focus is generally on Jesus and Mary, Joseph played a vital role that is often overlooked or forgotten.  What a perfect role model for us today.  

May God bless you and your loved ones today, tomorrow, and forevermore.

Fr. Harry