My children weren’t very old by the time they discovered that the Solemnity of St. Joseph on March 19 could grant them a little reprieve from their Lenten sacrifices. St. Joseph, the member of the Holy Family who really received their attention only at Christmas time as we lovingly placed his figure by the manger in our nativity sets, suddenly provided them with a worthy excuse to celebrate … even if they didn’t understand why!
Other than his name and position, they didn’t know much about the man, except that his feast allowed them to eat a bit of chocolate or play a video game during Lent. Why bother to ask questions?
Even adults know very little about St. Joseph. We realize he was the husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus. We have been told he was a carpenter, have heard that he was a descendent of David, and understand that he needed to be counted in a census in Bethlehem. We are also aware that he was spoken to by an angel – not something that happens every day.
Although we know so little, we appreciate that he held and protected the Baby who would grow up to save the world. He lived with, provided for, taught, and played with Jesus. St. Joseph literally touched the hand and saw the face of God!
Furthermore, St. Joseph is a model in being a true partner in a marriage covenant. Despite his initial uncertainties and feelings of concern regarding her pregnancy – during their betrothal when no consummation had taken place – Joseph listened to the angel and trusted in God’s plan for his life with Mary.
With great faith, he supported Mary in her pregnancy. With care and attention, he co-parented with her. Together, they were a family in everyday life as well as in moments of panic, such as escaping the wrath of King Herod and searching for the young Jesus when he was teaching in the Temple. In fact, some of Mary’s very few recorded words were used to tell Jesus how worried they both were in thinking he was lost: “your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety” (Lk 2:48).
As much as living in the same house as God was a tremendous blessing for St. Joseph, Scott Powell writes of how St. Joseph actually experienced some “Lenten” moments. As mentioned above, Mary’s pregnancy was difficult for him to understand at first. If St. Joseph had not had great faith and trust in God, he may have divorced Mary and lived the ways of the world. Instead, he chose the path with greater spiritual benefits, even though it wasn’t always easy.
St. Joseph chose to raise a child that was not his own – but was basically the Child given to the entire world. He bravely protected that Baby from the wrath of an evil king, only to allow him to grow and face death at the hand of another king – a death which resulted in new life for all. He chose to remain in a perpetually unconsummated marriage to preserve the virginity of God’s Mother – and Mother of us all. As Powell states: “long before Lent [was] ever a thing, Saint Joseph live[d] his Lent” (St. Joseph: Protector and Father, 2020).
St. Joseph’s Lent-like journey bore fruits which have benefited everyone else. His choices and actions have contributed to what we celebrate at both Christmas and Easter. St. Joseph made a huge difference to Mary and to Jesus; therefore, he made a huge difference to us.
Children – and the rest of us too, if we’re honest – may find the Solemnity of St. Joseph a “good excuse” to celebrate during a season of sacrifice, but I think if we all try to discover who St. Joseph is to each of us, how his choices and his life have made a quiet, humble – yet essential – difference to ours, we will recognize that we need no excuse to celebrate him.
As Scott Powell states, “it’s appropriate that we reflect a little bit on Joseph’s role … during Lent.” He lived his contemplative, sacrificial “Lent” during the days of the first Christmas story; in his honour, let us bring a little bit of Christmas-like joy to this sacrificial season of Lent.
