This Solemnity shows that the Sacrament of Matrimony is all about God’s Saving Plan, throughout all of Salvation History.
Saint Joseph and our Blessed Virgin Mary show us how. As Saint John Paul II states, Joseph and Mary are the summit from which holiness spreads all over the earth, through the Holy Family (Pope John Paul II’s 1989 Apostolic Exhortation Redemptoris Custos, on the person and mission of Saint Joseph in the life of Christ and of the Church).
Our Lord and Saviour began His Saving mission through Joseph and Mary’s holy union, manifesting His all-powerful Will to purify and sanctify the family, the sanctuary of love and cradle of life.
God’s constant saving mission for us, through the family, begins from the very beginning of the Bible, from Genesis.
Our reading from Saint Paul has our father in Faith Abraham, hoping against hope, believing in the Lord’s promise that he would become the father of many people, many nations of God, thus shall his descendants be (Romans 4:13-22).
Abraham’s wife Sarah, in their old age, laughed at the promise (Genesis 18), but then laughed in rejoicing and named their son Isaac, meaning, ‘rejoicing,’ ‘laughter,’ at the fulfillment of this promise (Genesis 21).
God’s saving plan always has the last laugh.
God’s saving plan continually works through the family.
The prophet Nathan offers the Lord’s promise to King David, that through his family, his kingdom, his throne, will stand firm forever (2 Samuel 7:4-16).
From Matthew’s Gospel (1:16-24), we have Joseph identified as the son of David, true heir to the throne, unlike the imposter tyrant king Herod of the time.
Joseph is identified as son of Jacob, and so Joseph’s namesake is revealed as the dreamer of dreams from the Lord, whose saving plan for that family continued despite being sold into slavery in Egypt.
Joseph listens to this dream for the Holy Family: ‘do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home… she will bear a son and you are to name Him Jesus, ‘God saves,’ because he will save us from our sins.
Joseph hears the Word of the Lord, through the messengers of the Lord, in his dream, not in speaking back.
Joseph wakes, doing, serving, the Word of the Lord, taking his part in God’s Saving Plan, our Salvation History.
From the Litany of Saint Joseph, Joseph is the
renowned offspring of King David,
Spouse of the Mother of God,
Guardian of our saving Lord Jesus Christ,
Head of the Holy Family, and
Protector of the Holy Church.Protector of the Holy Church, because the
Church is nothing other than the family of God, a
communion of Christian families and persons reflecting the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
continuing the saving mission of evangelizing all people and nations,
Baptizing in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
(Matthew 28; Catechism of the Catholic Church §§ 1655, 2205).
Let us pray with Saint Joseph, that we take up our part, with our families, in Salvation History.
Let us pray again our Collect: Grant, we pray, almighty God, that by Saint Joseph’s intercession, Your Church may constantly watch over the unfolding of the mysteries of our salvation.
