JOSEPH:
A RIGHTEOUS MAN
INTRODUCTION
The title of my homily for December 18th, 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 6th 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.
