He did it silently, justly and doing the will of God. How did Joseph provide this protection and provision? By his unfailing presence and committed fidelity. Hence, he continues to protect the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church. (C) As a silent saint, Joseph always did the will of God and protected and provided for Jesus and Mary. 2:13) iii) “ Get up, take the Child and his mother, and go back to the land of Israel” (Mt.2:20) iv) as a confirmation of Joseph’s prudent thought of taking Mary and Jesus out of Jerusalem (where a worse ruler might endanger them), and back to Nazareth, a small, out-of- the-way village in the country. Joseph received instructions from God through four dreams: i) “ Do not be afraid to take Mary to be your wife” (Mt.1:20) ii) “ Get up, take the Child and his mother and escape to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you to leave” (Mt. Joseph raised his heart and mind to God in all his needs and dangerous situations in life, besides praising and thanking Him.ĭreaming in the Old Testament was one way God used to communicate His will to men. (B) Joseph, the dreamer (like Joseph in the O.T.) received answers to his fervent prayers as dreams. 2:52).Ĭ) to his neighborsby being an ideal carpenter and good neighbor. Joseph protects Mary “discreetly, humbly, and silently, but with an unfailing presence and utter fidelity, even when he finds it hard to understand.”ī) to Jesusby loving him as his own son, giving him corrections and praise when merited, and teaching him to be a good, responsible man, training him in his trade, in the Law of Moses and in good conduct (Lk. (2) Joseph did his duties to others faithfully:Ī) to his wifeby giving her loving protection in spite of his previous suspicion about her miraculous pregnancy. (1) Joseph did his duties to God faithfully by obeying His laws revealed through Moses, through his king, and through his foster-son Jesus.Ī) He obeyed the Mosaic laws: i) by circumcising and naming Jesus on the 8th day, ii) by presenting Mary with her child in the Temple for the purification ceremony, iii) by making Jesus “son of the Law,” bringing him to the Temple of Jerusalem for the feast of Passover at the age of twelve.ī) He obeyed his King’s law by taking his pregnant wife Mary to Bethlehem for the census ordered by the emperor.Ĭ) He loved, cared for and protected Jesus during the Flight into Egypt (Mt 2:13)and after their return to Nazareth (Mt 2:20), and he and Mary searched for him when he remained in the Temple at the age of 12 when they wen up to Jerusalem for the Passover (Lk 2:44-48) and afther they went back to Nazareth (Lk 2:51-52 In the Biblical sense, a just man is one who faithfully does his duties to God, to lawful authorities, and to his fellow human beings. They present him as Joseph, the just man, the dreamer, and the silent saint who was the custodian and protector of Jesus and Mary, always doing the will of God. Joseph only in the Gospels of Mathew and Luke. JOSEPH IN THE HOLY BIBLE: We have the description of St.
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