Joseph: Christian Manhood

The Second Sunday After Christmas

"But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel."- Matthew 2:19

You may have noticed, starting on Christmas Day, a focus on Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. At first glance, there may be little to contemplate regarding Joseph. After all, what do we really know about him besides his name and the few events from Jesus' childhood? The Gospel does not record a single word he spoke; his communication was one of silence. Joseph's silence was evident in his attentiveness to the angelic messages that came to him in his dreams. His response to those messages was always prompt and marked by generous obedience.

Joseph worked in manual labor, doing hard and simple jobs. Because of his work, Jesus was known as "the son of the carpenter" (Mt. 13:55). We don't know much about him; he lived an ordinary life as a craftsman without fame, wealth, or recognition. However, his life showed a strong example of biblical manhood and faithfulness to Christ.

Joseph Was A Righteous Man

Let me begin by saying that St. Joseph was a righteous man, a holy individual who lived in a right relationship with God. His righteousness was demonstrated by his willingness to align his life, needs, and pursuits with the will of the Father and for the betterment of those entrusted to him.

While contemplating divorcing his espoused and beautiful Mary—whom he had not yet known, as their marriage had not been consummated—the Lord spoke to him through an angel. The angel said, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is in her is from the Holy Spirit" (Mt 1:20).

Joseph surrendered his plans and aligned his will and life with the revealed word of God, choosing to act according to the Divine will rather than his own. The Christian man prioritizes his relationship with God and cares for his wife, following Christ's teachings rather than following worldly ways or acting out of selfish desire. Joseph exemplifies how to align our lives with God's will.

Joseph Was An Obedient Man

Joseph was a man of great obedience who submitted to God's will for the greater good. His commitment to obedience was shown through his prompt responses to the guidance he received in his dreams. After Jesus was born, an angel directed Joseph to take Mary and Jesus and flee to Egypt, which he did without hesitation. Years later, another angel instructed him to return to Israel. During their journey, the angel further commanded him to go to Nazareth, and Joseph obeyed promptly, as we read in today's Gospel.

Consider the significance of Joseph's decisions in response to his dreams. These were not minor choices; they were life-altering. He risked personal scandal by marrying Mary, taking on the role of the chaste spouse of the Virgin Mary, and the foster father of the Son of God. He also left his job and family behind to journey through the desert to an unknown land. Then, when their lives had just begun to settle, he had to uproot them and return to where they started. And yet, he obeyed, by faith, even in the face of danger and doubt.

Joseph Was A Sacrificial Man

In each of these situations, Joseph not only acted obediently but sacrificially. The Christian man loves sacrificially. Obeying Christ always means making sacrifices. St. Joseph repeatedly sacrificed his plans, dreams, and desires to fulfill God's plans. He laid himself aside and embraced his role as a husband and father to help Jesus and Mary complete their missions, like our Lord, who set aside his will for the greater will and good of the Father.

But it takes humility to wholly dedicate oneself to serving another. And we would do well to look to St. Joseph, a model of humility, in how he served and cared for Jesus and Mary, especially as the priest of his home. It would have been Joseph, as the father and husband, who took Jesus to the Synagogue to observe the Sabbath's rites and to Jerusalem for the great feasts of Israel. By Jewish tradition, Joseph, as the father and priest of his family, would have led the daily prayers at home- in the morning, evening, at meals- and on the main religious feasts.

As the spiritual head of his home, Joseph humbly raised his Son Jesus in the way that he should go, in the faith of God's people. He made sure the boy (and even the whole family) faithfully fulfilled their covenant obligations of worship by offering sacrifices and serving the Living God. You see, a Christian man humbly submits himself first to God and then to fulfilling the responsibility of fatherhood and priest to his family within the sacred vocation of the domestic Church. By this, a man serves the lesser (his children and wife) in submission to the greater, Christ the Lord.

Joseph Was A Chaste Man

Next, Joseph was chaste: He was Mary's "most chaste spouse." He was a faithful husband and maintained marital fidelity to Mary, his wife. Chastity is a virtue that helps a person master self-mastery so that one can give oneself to others in the best way for them. Chastity raises one's love and attraction to the dignity of the other. Chastity allows one to see purely (to see God in another) and with piety (to reverence the divine image one beholds).

That's what Joseph was able to do in the case of his most blessed wife. Holding fast to the virtue of chastity allows men to protect women rather than prey upon them. Thus, a Christian man embraces chastity at every stage of manhood to protect his soul from the ravages of sexual sin, to uphold the dignity of all women, to keep the marriage bed pure, and to love his wife as Christ loves the Church.

Joseph was a righteous, obedient man who loved sacrificially and was chaste. Such virtues define the Christian man, husband, and father. Yet, without the virtue of courage, Joseph would have never become the godly example given to men. Courage is to do the right thing, the just thing, in the face of opposition, no matter the cost. Courage is manly, brave in the face of bodily harm, acting righteously when confronted with social, moral, and philosophical opposition, and pursuing justice.

I want to speak directly to the men. This culture is being engulfed by a growing moral darkness that is self-evident in the prevailing social pathologies, sexual deviancies, dissolution of marriage and family, declining birth rates, self-harm, depression, and suicide rates. Such is the trajectory of any culture or person who untethers reality from the God of heaven and earth.

So many men are confused and afraid to respond to this darkening culture. Some mistakenly attempt to "man up" by engaging in thrill-seeking behavior, sexual conquest, wild partying, or "manly" activities (hunting, fishing, sports, etc.). While others retreat into a perpetual adolescence or fade into feminization, resign themselves to endless apathy or misplaced aggression.

In the face of mass moral confusion and relentless cultural aggression toward traditional, biblical womanhood and manhood, rather than having the courage to stand for what is right, good, true, and beautiful, men are being cowed into timidity or distracted by displays of false courage. In this battle against evil (both from within and without), we need more than natural courage; we need "goodly courage." We need the courage of Jesus Christ, as exemplified by Joseph, to permeate every fiber of our being. "Goodly Courage" is the virtue of acting bravely under difficulties or in the face of opposition based on the promises and ultimate goodness of God.

This is exactly what Joseph did, and it's exactly what Jesus did. Men, we need courage to fend off timidity, which stops us from doing the good we ought to through fear of the consequences. This is why cultivating courage is so critical and cowardice so dangerous. As Christian men, we must remember that God "has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and self-discipline" (2 Tim 1:7). Therefore, live courageously. Live in a manner that pleases God. Show the world what man was truly created for, truly created to be. Show them Christ as Joseph did.

Joseph is a type of Christ. Like Jesus, Joseph trusted the Father, setting his will aside in obedience to the divine will. Joseph loved and protected the bride, disciplined and raised a son unto maturity, embraced his daily vocation, and worked hard while being obedient, faithful, and chaste in marriage. It's a delightful thought, that Joseph, the father, modeled in his life the Son who though he was a Son, is the model of all faithful fathers.

Let us all strive, both men and women, young and old, to emulate Joseph's righteousness, faith, obedience, chastity, humility, and courage. May we, like him, grow in holiness and live in service to Christ, His bride, the Church, and the world. In the end, may we obtain eternal joy and beatitude in communion with Joseph, Mary, and all the saints who surround Jesus, to whom Joseph's holy life points us on Joseph's. Amen.