Homily for December 18, 2023

Homily for December 18, 2023

Matt 1: 18-25
Provincial House, New Rochelle, N.Y.

Matthew’s Gospel begins with “the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (1:1).  We missed its reading yesterday—or were spared it, if you prefer.  It contains an important focus on David and culminates with “Joseph, the husband of Mary,” mother of “Jesus who is called the Messiah” (1:16).

St. Joseph's Dream (Champaigne)

Our gospel today is, in Christian tradition, overshadowed by Luke’s story of the annunciation to Mary.  But this annunciation to Joseph is just as important.  It establishes Jesus as son of David, like Joseph, thus establishing his messianic credential, which couldn’t come to him thru Mary, kinswoman of Elizabeth, who belonged to the tribe of Levi (Luke 1:5).

This annunciation to Joseph tells us that Joseph was an upright and honorable man.  We know this not only because Matthew says so (1:19) but because, 1st, of his sensitivity toward his betrothed before he’s enlightened by the angel of the Lord; and 2d, because of his immediate obedience to the command of God, followed by further obedience in naming the child as he was instructed, and by naming him acknowledging the boy as his own, legally, in spite of knowing the boy was not and never could be his true son.  Without Mary’s cooperation, God’s plan couldn’t have come about, nor without Joseph’s, for a different, legal reason.

Could it have been easy for Joseph?  We can’t say for certain since he didn’t talk about it or leave his memoirs.  But we know what he did.  That’s the measure of his honor and obedience, of his relationship with the Lord.

I think it’s fair to say that Joseph was close to the Lord—a fitting choice by God for his divine plan for “saving his people from their sins” (1:21).  Joseph couldn’t have been so open to God without a close relationship with him, which I suppose to have been based on his dedication to his Jewish faith and on prayer.

If faith, prayer, and a relationship didn’t make Joseph’s actions easy, they at least made them possible.  His honor and his obedience took it from there.  That’s why Joseph is a model for us, who so often have to ponder and to act on God’s plans.