A Simple Life

 Gospel: Matthew 1: 16, 18, 21-24

The feast of St. Joseph in the western church dates to the 10th century when someone imagined this date to be the day on which Joseph died.  In Coptic Christianity the feast had been celebrated earlier and on July 20th, while in other Eastern traditions the feast is around Christmas.  All sorts of legends and imaginings exist about Joseph, all of which contradict each other.  It is as if we cannot rest content with what the scriptures give us about him.

Joseph is a simple man.  He utters not a single word in all of scripture.  He simply remains open and listens to the promptings of God in his life, then he follows where those promptings direct him, asking not why or what will happen next.  All his mentionings in the Gospels are centered on times of crisis and distress, and yet we do not find him in a state of panic.  He remains open, he listens to the promptings of God, and he follows them wherever they lead.  Joseph is content to not be the center of attention, but to remain quietly in the background in support of those in his life.

Perhaps this is why we are restless regarding Joseph, and feel as though we have to invent things about his life and death.  We ourselves desire the center stage, the dramatic speaking roles and the like.  We do not rest content with the lesser role.  We do not sit calmly waiting in patience for God's promptings and following where they lead.  Which is why Joseph is such a necessary saint and model of faith for our lives, for he embodies all that a disciple must be to follow the Lord Jesus and support those in our lives in humble service and love.