JOSEPH:

A RIGHTEOUS  MAN

INTRODUCTION

The  title  of my homily for December 18^th,  is, “Joseph: A Righteous Man.”

Today’s gospel features Joseph – describing him as “a righteous man.”

Last night I looked up the Greek word used in Matthew 1: 19 to describe Joseph – and it’s dikaios.

Usually dikaios  is translated as “just” or  “righteous. This Greej word dikaios  - implies or puts a stress on “faithfulness” – or “truthfulness” – or “does what is right” or “this person does what God does.”

So Matthew is telling us that about Joseph – the name of the last  person in the long list of men that lead up to Jesus – Joseph the husband of Mary – that Tom read in yesterday’s long list of people gospel.

In other words, Joseph is outstanding – a good person.

What was Mary’s pet name for Joseph – Joe the Carpenter. How did she refer to him at the town well?

TODAY’S GOSPEL

As we heard in today’s gospel, Joseph protects Mary from being shamed – a strong issue to worry about  in a close, small, rural community – like Nazareth. It’s  population: estimated to be  around 400 people and one public bath in the first century.

Mary’s  pregnant – and she hasn’t been with Joseph her husband yet.

Joseph gets his strength from the message he gets in a dream – from an angel – who tells Joseph: “Do not be afraid. Mary is pregnant through the Holy Spirit – and the child she is going to have is going to save the people.”

He’ll be called, “God is with us” – Emmanuel.

That’s pretty heavy stuff and Mary and Joseph need to be strong to deal with this Salvation History and Salvation Mystery.

THOUGHTS ABOUT JOSEPH

Catholics have thoughts and perceptions about Joseph. He’s not Mary – but he’s prominent.

When I was looking up stuff last night about Joseph,  I noticed that Protestant theologians like Karl Barth wished Catholics would play down Mary a bit – so when Pope John XXIII elevated Joseph a bit by adding him to the Canon of the Mass in 1962 – Barth said, “Good!”

Some Catholics complained that John XXIII made that change, saying it was the first change in the Canon of the Mass since the 6^th Century.

Next I noticed that Pope Francis followed suit in 2013 when he added “Blessed Joseph her spouse” after Mary’s name in the Canon Prayer II, III, and IV of our Mass.

What’s your thoughts, your wonderings about Joseph?

Most Catholic churches have statues or pictures of Joseph. What’s your take on Joseph statues – besides the folk theory of burying a small statue of St. Joseph in the ground of your property, if you want to sell your house.  

I am no student of Joseph art – Joseph statues – so  I say without doing my homework that I noticed a statue of Mary and Joseph – as Holy Family – with Jesus – and it started to show them touching. I’ve seen it various churches.

It’s almost 2020 – that’s since Jesus’ birth – and the theology of Jesus as God – makes Jesus more than human – and Mary is a different human being.

The virginity of Mary makes it imperative that he is the only child – because what would a second child be – and who would be the father.

Yet Mary and Joseph are spouses – and husband and wife – so will theologians in the next 2000 years delve into their relationship – by showing Jesus not with a lily the symbol of purity – or what have you – and will heresies pop up.

Just wondering. 

CONCLUSION

Further time and research and development will bring us new nuances.

Research and pondering are good.

For example, last night I began wondering about the song, “If I Were a Carpenter and You Were a Lady, would you marry me anyhow?”

I got the thought: Is that about Mary and Joseph – since Joseph was a carpenter?

I found out it isn’t. It’s a song by Tim Hardin from the 1960’s and it’s about his marriage to a rich woman – and he’s a drug addict.

He died at the age of 39 – from a heroin overdose -but on research I found out his drug addiction started with his need for morphine after an athletic accident.

Message: more research etc. is needed on Joseph.