St. Joseph and Manhood

Archdiocese of Washington ^ | 03-19-17 | Msgr. Charles Pope

[Salvation]

St. Joseph and Manhood

Msgr. Charles Pope • March 19, 2017 •

I remember once being amused to hear that a 19^th century Franciscan theologian (whose name I cannot recall) wrote a six-volume set called “The Life of St. Joseph.” How could one possibly get enough material to fill six volumes? We know so little about Joseph from Scripture. He seems to have been the strong, silent type. Not a word of his is recorded, but his actions have much to say, especially to men.

On this feast of St. Joseph, we do well to ponder him as a model for manhood, for husbands and fathers.

1. Joseph is a man who obeys God and clings to his wife. Joseph was betrothed to Mary. This is more than being engaged; it means they were actually married. It was common at the time for couples to marry at a young age. Once betrothed they lived an additional year in their parents’ household while they became more acquainted and prepared for life together. At a certain point it was discovered that Mary was pregnant, though not by Joseph. Scripture describes Joseph as “a just man.” This does not mean that Joseph was fair and a nice guy (though I presume he was); it means that he was a follower of the Law. He based his life on the Jewish Law that God gave through Moses, as interpreted by the rabbis. The Law said that if a man discovered that his betrothed was not a virgin, he should divorce her and not “sully” his home. As a follower of the Law, Joseph was prepared to follow its requirements. However, he did not wish to expose Mary to its full force, which would have permitted her to be stoned. Hence, he chose to follow the Law by filing a divorce decree without publicly accusing her. He would remain quiet as to his reason for the divorce and Mary would escape possible stoning. To fail to divorce Mary would expose Joseph to cultural ramifications. Just men didn’t marry women guilty of fornication or adultery. To ignore this might have harmed not only Joseph’s standing in the community but also that of his family of origin. You know the rest of the story: Joseph is told in a dream that he should not be afraid because Mary has committed no sin. Matthew records, When Joseph awoke, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife (Matt 1:24). Now a man obeys God even if it is not popular, even if he has to suffer for it. Joseph is told to cling to his wife; he may suffer for it, but he “obeys God rather than men.” It takes a strong man to do this, especially when we consider the culture in which Joseph lived, and that he lived in a small town no less. Joseph model of strong manhood has something to say to the men of our day. In current Catholic wedding vows, a man promises to cling to his wife for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. Our culture often pressures men to bail out when there is trouble. Joseph shows the proper way by obeying God over the pressures of the prevailing culture, even if he will personally suffer for it.
2. Joseph is a man whose vocation is more important to him than his career. In Bethlehem, Joseph is warned by an angel in a dream, Get up, take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him (Matt 2:13). Joseph may well have had much to lose in this flight. Back in Nazareth he had a business, a career if you will. He had business prospects, business partners, and contacts. Fleeing to a distant land might mean that others would take away his business. But Joseph was a father and husband before he was a businessman. His child was threatened and his first obligation was to Jesus and Mary. His vocation outweighed his career. Today, too many parents make their careers and livelihood paramount, relegating their children to day care; Joseph demonstrates different priorities. It is true that many parents feel they have no choice but to work, but it is also true that many demand a standard of living that requires extra income to maintain. Perhaps a smaller house and fewer amenities would permit their children to have a childhood without day care. Joseph shows the way for parents: vocation has priority over career. For fathers especially, Joseph shows that a man is a husband and father before he is a businessman.
3. Joseph is a man who protects his family. Joseph models a protective instinct that too many men lack today. Like Jesus, our children are exposed to many dangers. In the United Sates there aren’t a lot of physical dangers to fear, but moral dangers surely abound. Fathers, what are your children watching on television? What are they looking at on the Internet? Who are their friends? What do your children think about important moral issues? Are you preparing them to face the moral challenges and temptations of life? Are you and your wife teaching them the faith? Are you just a passive father, minimally involved in the raising of your children? A man protects his children from harm, physical, moral, and spiritual. Joseph demonstrates this aspect of manhood.
4. Joseph is a man of work. Scripture refers to Joseph as a “carpenter” (Matt 13:55). The Greek word used, however, is τέκτονος (tekton os), which can mean more than a woodworker. It can also refer to a builder or any craftsman. It seems unlikely that Joseph and Jesus would have worked exclusively in wood, as it was fairly rare in the Holy Land and used more sparingly than it is today. Stone was surely plentiful at that time, so it may be that Joseph worked with stone as well as wood. It was through His work that Joseph supported his family. It is the call of a man to work diligently and to provide for his family responsibly and reliably, and Joseph models this well. St. Paul felt it necessary to rebuke some of the men of his day for their idleness: In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us…. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ that with quietness they earn the bread they eat (2 Thess 3:10-12).
5. Joseph is a man who teaches his son. We learn from Scripture that Jesus was a carpenter (Mk 6:3). It is obvious that it was Joseph who taught Him this trade. Consider the hours that they spent together as Joseph patiently handed his trade on to Jesus, teaching Him its methods and intricacies. It is not enough for a father to provide for his children; he must also prepare them for life. He does this through modeling and teaching discipline, moderation, hard work, self-control, and many other life skills. Today it is relatively rare for men to teach a trade to their sons or to other children. In the end, a man prepares his children for life. Joseph models manhood by preparing Jesus for life as a tradesman. Some (e.g., St. Thomas Aquinas) argue that Joseph did not teach Jesus carpentry and that His knowledge was not learned, but I cannot square this with the Scripture that indicates Jesus grew in age, grace, and wisdom (see Lk 2:52). If Jesus can even grow in human wisdom, how much more so in lesser knowledge. At any rate, however much Jesus was taught by Joseph, every father should teach his sons and daughters!

Joseph is a model for manhood. Nothing he ever said was recorded, but his life speaks eloquently. He is referred to as the Guardian and Patron of the Universal Church. He has these titles because he was guardian, protector, and patron (provider) of the Church in its earliest stage: when the Church was just Jesus and Mary. Because the Church is the mystical Body of Christ, in protecting, providing, and preparing Jesus, he was doing that for us, for we are in Christ as members of His body. Men do well to imitate St. Joseph and invoke his patronage in all their endeavors as husbands, fathers, and providers.

St. Joseph, pray for us.

[BipolarBob]

On the other hand, I don't think it really matters much.

Well if it doesn't matter much then you and Campion just concede that it was His brothers and sisters mentioned there. Campion says give me names. I gave him names. He says don't try to bind believers to something not contained in the clear words of Scripture. So I give him the clear words of scripture. The words favor my viewpoint. Now you have a friend who says they were cousins and not brothers and sisters. I am assuming your friend is Catholic and therefore has a bias. The Bible clearly states they were identifying Jesus by saying I know His father the carpenter, I know His mother Mary and I know His siblings. This is specific. Not addressing a congregation as someone has suggested. The Bible is plain and clear. Believe it or not.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“Your question seems to assume that one could have, or needs to have, “proof” for pious devotions. This is by noi means the case.”

No friend.

My question assumes you have any evidence at all to substantiate your truth claim about dear Joseph.

I will take your answer to mean you just like the idea.

[Iscool]

Are you confusing the words “brothers” or “sisters” with the word in use at that time: “brethren”, which was used for all relatives?

They were extended family or friends.

It certainly was not and they are not...

Brothers

ἀδελφός
adelphos
ad-el-fos'
From G1 (as a connective particle) and δελφύς delphus (the womb); a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like [H1]): - brother.

Adelphos means a male blood relative from the same, immediate family...Either literally or figuratively...

Many minister use the phrase “Brothers and sisters”, but they are really talking to their congregation.

Do you have any idea why??? No??? It's because we have all been born again...From Above...From the same father...We are blood brothers spiritually and figuratively...

And sisters???

ἀδελφή
adelphē
ad-el-fay'
Feminine of G80; a sister (natural or ecclesiastical): - sister.

This makes it so simple you couldn't miss it with the Hubble telescope...

Adelphe is a natural (real blood) sister or an ecclesiastical, born again sister, born from God, the same as 'brothers'...

Those words have never meant cousin, nephew, kin, aunt, uncle or kinsmen...

And since these words are used to describe Jesus' immediate family, we know that Jesus had brothers and sisters...And the only way they could be natural brothers and sisters is if they all had the same father, or mother...

[Mrs. Don-o]

"...any evidence at all to substantiate your truth claim about dear Joseph.

"Truth claim?" I think you are making a category error here. This is an honorary and devotional title, not a "truth claim". Like if I were to pass on to my eternal reward and be dubbed Patron Saint of Internet Remedial Catechetics.

I would "be" such because acclaimed as such. It is an honor by acclamation.

And I promise you that if you were still on this terrestrial ball and hanging around the FR Religion Forum, I'd be hopping up and down on my celestial perch praying for you!!

`

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Hehehe.

`

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Amen.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

"Truth claim?" I think you are making a category error here. This is an honorary and devotional title, not a "truth claim". Like if I were to pass on to my eternal reward and be dubbed Patron Saint of Internet Remedial Catechetics.

Indeed! This is why I concluded that you could only mean it as something you like to believe.

This is an honorary and devotional title

In other words, made up to feel good. I get it.

That doesn't make it true, but it must resonate with you personally.

Best to you.

[Mark17]

Bob, I think you should read my post 15 again. I specifically said the Greek word indicates that the children that were named, were NOT cousins, but actual blood brothers and sisters of Jesus, all born from Mary. Neither me, nor my Greek friend are RCC.

[BipolarBob]

Oh, my mistake. Yeah, that sounds right. Iscool has a post repeating it. I just have a hard time with this “perpetual” virgin Mary demigoddess thing. Mary was a wonderful person I’m sure but this putting her on a pedestal (or a statue) would bother her. When we see Peter (Acts 10) telling Cornelius “Stand up, I myself am also a man”. That means NO worship, adoration or revere or statuary or anything else they can come up with is acceptable. Again my apologies.

[Mark17]

FReegards to you and yours. Maranatha.

[Salvation]

A sin (judgment) against the Blessed Virgin Mary and thus a sin against the Holy Spirit.

[Salvation]

Joseph was to be, for all times, the trustworthy witness of the Messiah’s virgin birth. After this, he modestly retires into the background of holy Scripture.

[BipolarBob]

A sin (judgment) against the Blessed Virgin Mary and thus a sin against the Holy Spirit.

Just what is this sin judgment? For saying Mary had other children besides Jesus? That she had normal relations with her lawful husband? If that's the case, write me down for one of them because I don't believe it.

[Mark17]

I don't really know what it means bro. It's a new one on me. I DO, however, know that my Greek friend tells me what the Greek words mean.
There are some Freepers here, who have studied Greek as well, but Greek, is my friend's first language. I have asked him about numerous passages in Greek before.

[Salvation]

She had only one child. Even Luther, Zwingli and Calvin agreed that she was a perpetual virgin.

[BipolarBob]

Even Luther, Zwingli and Calvin agreed that she was a perpetual virgin.

Then Luther, Zwingli and Calvin are wrong and the Bible is correct. One + God is always a majority.

[lightman]

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

St. Joseph, pray for us.
Renowned offspring of David, pray for us.
Light of Patriarchs, pray for us.
Spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us.
Chaste guardian of the Virgin, pray for us.
Foster father of the Son of God, pray for us.
Diligent protector of Christ, pray for us.
Head of the Holy Family, pray for us.

Joseph most just, pray for us.
Joseph most chaste, pray for us.
Joseph most prudent, pray for us.
Joseph most strong, pray for us.
Joseph most obedient, pray for us.
Joseph most faithful, pray for us.

Mirror of patience, pray for us.
Lover of poverty, pray for us.
Model of artisans, pray for us.
Glory of home life, pray for us.
Guardian of virgins, pray for us.
Pillar of families, pray for us.
Solace of the wretched, pray for us.
Hope of the sick, pray for us.
Patron of the dying, pray for us.
Terror of demons, pray for us.
Protector of Holy Church, pray for us.

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord!.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord!.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

V. He made him the lord of his household.
R. And prince over all his possessions.

Let us pray. O God, in your ineffable providence you were pleased to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your most holy Mother; grant, we beg you, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our Protector: You who live and reign forever and ever.

R. Amen.

[Salvation]

Amen! Just what this thread needed.

[Salvation]

I have already pointed out that your interpretation is incorrect. Am I right?

[BipolarBob]

I seek guidance in Matthew 6:7 and Psalms 109:105.

[BipolarBob]

You have told me YOUR opinion and Calvin, Zwingli and Luther. I have disregarded these as spurious. I go by the plain teaching of the Bible. Jesus had (half)brothers and sisters.

[BipolarBob]

It seems odd that RCs are distraught by the fact that Mary was a fertile woman. It doesn’t make sense. I am sure her children brought her much joy.