Because Joseph, her husband, was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly (Mt. 1:19).
Today’s gospel presents St. Joseph as a marvelous advent model in preparation for Christmas. The virtues found in St. Joseph could be looked at as the guidelines in our preparation for Christmas.
(1) Righteousness: The four women, the companions of Mary we find in the genealogy of Jesus (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bethsheba) had something abnormal according to the purity laws of the time as all four of them conceived outside the purity laws. Mary’s pregnancy is also abnormal, but not because of a human deviation but because of Divine will. Jesus told his disciples, ‘Unless your righteousness surpasses that of Pharisees and Scribes you cannot enter the Kingdom of God’ (Mt. 5:20). Joseph practiced the justice beforehand which Jesus would teach later. If he had the justice of Pharisees, he would have denounced Mary and sentenced her to be stones.
(2) Silent Passionist: We never find Joseph uttering a single word. He is a man of dreams. He decided to suffer in silence. Did not make a scandal.
(3) Obedience: Joseph replaces his own human plans with divine plans. Thanks to the justice, silent passion and obedience of Joseph because Mary was not put to death with Savior. Savior would have been put to death even before a death through crucifixion if Joseph was not a person of divine righteousness. Because the divine design of salvation project is not dictated in an arbitrary fashion. It is filled
only with human cooperation. Human freewill whether to cooperate or reject is very crucial in the salvation of God. The salvation history and salvific work of God continues in the world because of certain people like St. Joseph who cooperated with God. Amen.
Fr. Jerry Joseph Vallomkunnel MCBS