Joseph’s integrity while facing a divine dilemma is an example for us

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

A reflection on the daily readings, for the Solemnity of St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by Father Perry.
By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor
+ Two words come to mind from this feast, and this man, and these readingsintegrity and dilemma. And what a dilemma this was!
Joseph, betrothed to Mary — and for the Jews in those days, once betrothed you were already married; it was the first step, even more so than just being engaged — discovered that Mary was pregnant.
Now also in those days, if a woman was pregnant — and this, obviously, had to have occurred as a result of an adulterous affair; at least Joseph was sure he had not brought this about — the woman, according to the Law, could be taken out and stoned to death.
First, deal with the adultery, the unfaithfulness of the woman you loved; and, second, now deal with picking up stones and throwing them at her until she dies?
Yikes!
But Joseph was a good and just man; he couldn’t and wouldn’t do it. It was going to be a private and very quiet divorce, removing the possibility of any “shame” for Mary.
But God intervened; God sent an angel and told Joseph there was more here than meets the eye. And Joseph now had to deal with some deep mystery, and grow even more in his faith; through all of this, we see his tremendous integrity.
Son, why have you done this to us?

Son, why have you done this to us?

In the alternate Gospel for today’s solemnity, we see the same integrity when Joseph and Mary discover that Jesus is not in their caravan. He is lost; and this, in Jerusalem, a very large city during festival times.
Yikes!
But good and just man that he was, he simply hunkered down, and with Mary, went looking for their son.
The first and second readings give reference to Abraham and to the line of David. Both stories take us back to Abraham, our father in faith, and God the Father of Jesus and us all, as he spoke through Nathan to David and made clear there was to be a direct line to Jesus through Joseph who was in the line of David.
What an amazing story! What an amazing reality!
Does God work like this through and for us? Does mystery and salvation work its way into our lives? Are we called to receive God’s voice and open to God’s graces in our lives?
Even in our own dilemmas, might it be true that we are called to live an integrity of faith and allow those graces to do their work within us, maybe just like Joseph and Mary?
Joseph is patron saint of the Catholic Church. No wonder! He took good care of Mary and Jesus, and the church believes he does the same for us.
St. Joseph, pray for us!

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