Joseph is Mary’s husband and step-father to Jesus. He is sometimes called the “silent saint” because he does not speak in the Gospel accounts. Traditionally, Joseph is said to have been a carpenter by trade. It is thought he died before Jesus began his ministry, making Mary a widow. The Gospel of Matthew tells the story of Jesus’ birth from Joseph’s point of view. In dreams, God speaks to Joseph and tells him to marry Mary, assuring him that the child she carries is God’s son, and later instructs Joseph to flee with Mary and Jesus to Egypt to avoid Herod’s massacre of the innocents. Joseph is the patron saint of fathers and workers. His feast day is celebrated March 19th.
“When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him…” — (Matthew 1:24)
Questions for Reflection:
- God communicated with Joseph through his dreams and told him to do some pretty unbelievable things. How does God communicate with you?
- How do you discern the voice of God from competing noises, especially with the influences of social media?
- How do you act on the calls you receive from God?
