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A Tribute to Joseph, Foster Father of Jesus

The Bible doesn't say much about Joseph, yet there is much that we do know of him. Joseph was handpicked by God to be the foster father of Jesus. And that says enough. What else do we know? He was a worker, reliable and faithful. Some of the following I got from a paper called "Sons of saint Joseph:"

When he found out Mary was pregnant, and not by him, he suffered in silence. There was no outburst or rebellion to cover up his inner hurt, but responds to his crisis both justly and charitably. He resolves to break the solemn engagement rather than live a lie. That is justice. However, for Mary's sake, "privately". That is charity.

Joseph provided for Mary and Jesus: travel to Bethlehem, found shelter for the birth and later safety in Egypt from the murderous Herod. Nevertheless, Joseph could not afford a horse, only a donkey. He could not get a room at the inn, only a cattle stall. He may have thought himself a failure as a provider, as many a man feels today if he cannot afford to give his family "the best." He has not failed, he can be "the best." Look how Mary and Jesus turned out under Joseph's providence.

His work was for them … he is always there for his family.

Even Satan cannot defeat this simple man. Satan inspires Herod to slaughter the innocents, as he inspires our modern Herods to the holocaust of abortion. However, Satan fails because Joseph obeys God's angel and provides for his family: two deeds of ordinariness that are more powerful against the forces of hell than anything else in this world. Take away all the Nobel Prize winners and humanity would still survive. Take away obedience to God, and loyalty to family, and even with a million Nobel Prize winners, humanity is doomed. These are the two traditional values most imperiled in our time.

When the threat passes, Joseph takes his family home. Travel to and living in a foreign land was no vacation then, it involved real hardship. Joseph obeyed God, and Mary and the baby Jesus survived.

The last thing Scripture says about Joseph is that Jesus was obedient to him and Mary and that Jesus grew in wisdom and stature. (See Luke 2:51-52).

Why did God pick Joseph to be the foster father of Jesus? Because as God knows all of us, He knew Joseph was reliable, obedient and faithful.

What more can you ask of any father?

By George Konig
December 12, 2004
www.konig.org

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