Fr. Michael Williams

This last week has seen a Christian group called, Churchads, place hundreds of billboard posters across the country with a baby scan picture of a child in His mother’s womb. The baby in the womb has a halo round His head. And the caption reads: ‘He’s on His way’. It’s a very effective poster as it not only shows the sanctity of human life in the womb, but it reminds us that the Son of God once resided in a woman’s womb. It’s a modern way to try and illustrate something of the holy nature of this season.

The miraculous nature of how Jesus was conceived in Our Lady’s womb is the story of the gospel today. Joseph, ‘a man of honour’, must have been in real confusion as he began to see Mary, the Virgin, pregnant. Nowhere does the gospel suggest Joseph suspected Mary being unfaithful, in fact he wanted to protect here from false accusations that could have theoretically led her being stoned to death. St Joseph would of course never countenance this. He didn’t understand how Mary was pregnant, but he tried to do the right thing ‘wanting to spare her publicity’. As is so often the case our plans are different to God’s plans; and Joseph’s plan was different to God’s.

God’s ways were revealed to Joseph when God sent His messenger to instruct Joseph in what he should do. Note St Joseph followed these instructions to the letter. This Advent it’s worth asking ourselves do we always follow the Lord’s instructions? Are we open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit like St. Joseph?

None of St Joseph’s words are recorded in the gospels, but his listening to God and acting on the instructions received from the Lord are clearly there: Joseph is faultless in following the Lord’s guidance, and ultimately he proves very faithful in the task entrusted to him from God. He loves, cherishes and protects Jesus and Mary, who have been entrusted to his care.

Joseph also provided for Jesus and Mary’s needs by the sweat of his brow (as a carpenter- and he taught Jesus this trade).

Of course there are some hairy moments for Joseph, like when he has to take Jesus and Mary out of the reach of the evil king, Herod, who was seeking to destroy the new born child. But St Joseph remained faithful despite the challenges and difficulties he faced; again we are called to imitate his fidelity, despite the challenges and difficulties we face on life’s journey.

Finally, let us entrust ourselves and our loved ones to St Joseph, the great Patriarch, who God entrusted with His Only Son and His Mother