The Faith of Joseph

Today's Gospel contains the Nativity Story as told by Matthew.  This story is pretty short but it is one of the few places I am aware of where the Bible specifically talks about Joseph, the Earthly Father of Jesus.

The story of the Annunciation where the Angel Gabriel comes to Mary is well known.  But we sometimes forget Joseph's role in the birth of Jesus.  He was also visited by and Angel of the Lord and told that he should still take Mary to be his wife even with child, because she is with child through the Holy Spirit.  He, like Mary, showed faith, and gave the rest of his life to the young Jesus.

We know very little from the Bible about Jesus's youth, therefore we know very little about Joseph either. But even though Jesus was and is the Son of God, I'd assume there were lessons that, as a father, Joseph passed on to the young Jesus.  Earthly lessons might have been Joseph's job.  But it must have been hard knowing that he, a man, was teaching the Messiah.

By the time of Jesus's mission when the Gospels really start, Joseph is no longer mentioned at all.  Still, I believe, that he was an instrumental part of getting Jesus to the point where he start his preaching.  Thank God for Joseph-the head of the Holy Family.