December 21, 2025: Lessons from St. Joseph

Lessons from St. Joseph

 You know, Joseph gets a raw deal in the Christmas story. I mean he puts up with a lot . . . accepted that his girlfriend, Mary is pregnant and he knows he’s not the father; well they got married and he needs to travel down Nazareth to Bethlehem, because of a census with this pregnant wife; then he wants good things for her and all he can come with for her to give birth is a barn (or it could have been a cave, as some theologians suggest), then after the birth he needs to pack up and move to Egypt for a few years . . . becoming immigrants, starting over. 

Joseph goes through a lot.  And the worst part is that he doesn’t’ get any Christmas songs about him.  I mean, think about it . . . everyone else gets a song [I sing] “Hark the ANGELS sing” , “While SHEPHERDS watch the sheep by night,” “We three KINGS of orient art,” “MARY did you know that baby boy would one day walk on water.”    Even things got songs: “Away in a MANGER,” “O Little TOWN of Bethlehem.”  It’s not fair.  We should start a “What about Joseph movement?”   

It's not fair.  And probably everyone has felt that there are things in life that aren’t fair.  I know for myself that coming from a large family, it always felt like everyone one else got more gifts and better gifts at Christmas. (They probably didn’t but it’s in the manual of a pre-teen to complain about everything) 

Does Joseph complain about not having a Christmas song about him?  Probably not.  We don’t know much about him, but this we know: 

Joseph was Jesus’ earthly father. 

He married Mary. 

He was probably older than Mary, he may even have been a widower who had kids, 

hence the reference in the gospels of Jesus having brothers. 

He was a carpenter, making things with his hands (and probably taught Jesus how to do the same.) 

He trusted God. 

Now he is the opposite of King Ahaz who we heard about in the first reading.  King Ahaz doesn’t want a sign, because he wants a foreign nation to save him more than he wants the Lord. He wants what is familiar with, not what God wants to give. 

Jospeh is totally accepting of what God wants to give,  even when it seems unfair, goofy or just plain odd.  Think of that struggle you are currently having, maybe God wants something completely goofy for you?  Have you been paying attention to your dreams? 

 
Anyway, Joseph IS important.  Perhaps all the things we need to know about life can be exemplified by St. Joseph: 

When Joseph found out Mary was pregnant and they weren’t married yet, his life plans fell apart . . . how do you handle it when your plans don’t work? 

God only talked to Joesph through dreams . . .are you paying attention when God whispers to you, or do you expect God to shout it in your ear?  Do you pay attention to your dreams? 

Joseph stayed when disappearing would’ve been easier . . . how often do you choose “not my problem” over actual tasking responsibility? 

Jospeh guarded his family when they were threatened and escaped to live in Egypt . . any chance you’ve been ignoring the people God literally put in your care? 

As a carpenter, Jospeh showed up to manual labor every single day . . . do you see your work as “holy,” or just something standing between you and the weekend? 

Joseph trusted God without getting a full explanation . . . are you waiting for more answers before you fully trust God with that certain situation in your life? 

Jospeh mastered the art of being quiet . . . do you leave space for God and for others to speak, or do you always have to have the last word? 

Joseph saved the world quietly, never got a song for his efforts and always pointed to Christ . . . are you able to get out of the way and let your life, your words, your actions point toward Christ?