Encountering the Heart of St. Joseph: A Just Man

The beginning of the Gospel of St. Matthew describes St. Joseph as a just man. As such, he is questioning how to best respond to the news of Mary’s astonishing pregnancy. 

What follows is a scene which parallels the annunciation to Mary in the Gospel of St. Luke: “In a dream, an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph saying ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Mt 1:20-21).

In response to this, St. Joseph did as the angel of the Lord commanded. Even so, there was a still a mystery to it all and, it seems certain, more questions that St. Joseph had. Yet, with strength given to him by God, St. Joseph took Mary “in all the mystery of her motherhood. He took her together with the son who had come into the world by the power of the Holy Spirit” (St. John Paul II “Redemptoris Custos” 3). 

St. Joseph, pray for us, that we too may faithfully receive all that the Lord is entrusting to us. 

Danielle Van Haute

Associate Director, Office of Evangelization and Catechesis