The Joseph's Old and New
One
In life there are no coincidences, there are only moments of accepting or rejecting God's will; but God brings good out of that rejection. This is what’s known as Salvation history and is God's masterpiece. There are no coincidences in that story. Thus, when we discover a Joseph in the Old Testament and a Joseph in the New, this is no coincidence.
Little is said about St. Joseph in the New Testament, but we can learn much by comparing him to the Joseph of the Old.
Both Joseph's are fulfillments of Gods promise: The Joseph in Genesis is a son of Jacob and his descendants will fulfill God's promises made to his forefathers. St. Joseph is also a fulfillment of those same promises in that from the root of Jesse springs forth the savior. Even though St. Joseph did not contribute genetically to Jesus, he still gave Jesus his name and lineage, as Jewish people traced their lineage through the legal father. Thus, through St. Joseph, Jesus fulfills the prophecies tying him to King David and the patriarchs. Jesus so designed His plan that He wanted to make Joseph His connector to the covenants of old so He could fulfill them and honor His both his earthly and heavenly Father. Do we honor our earthly fathers? Do they know we honor them?
Two
Both Josephs exhibited patient endurance in the face of suffering. This revealed their strength. The Joseph in Genesis had to wait in slavery, and then due to the whim of a bad memory, in prison for three years. How many of us could stay faithful to God during these years of neglect? Joseph was rewarded for his fidelity, becoming second in command to Pharaoh himself.
St. Joseph was also patient, patient enough to raise the Messiah and not attempt to quicken the plan of God, which took 33 years. He led his family into a dangerous foreign country when powerful men were seeking the life of his son. He led the Holy Family fearlessly both to and from Egypt, and they—Jesus and Mary—entrusted themselves entirely to his care. St. Joseph, please allow us to entrust ourselves to your care as well! And especially let us patiently endure suffering as a way to draw us closer to the Holy Family.
Three
Both Josephs accepted amazing responsibilities. The Old Joseph was given all of Egypt to oversee. The Pharoah himself told everyone to stop coming to him and go to Joseph. The New Joseph was asked to take on a celibate marriage and raise the savior of all humanity. He had the privilege to teach the Second Person of the Trinity how to be a man.
Both Joseph's had the fortitude to bring to completion the tasks they were assigned. Old Joseph stayed close to God and strengthened Egypt, and when God threw him the curve ball by having his brothers come back begging for food, he welcomed them with open arms once he ascertained their repentance. “And now do not be destressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.” (Gen 45:5.)
St. Joseph was sent by God into Egypt to preserve Jesus’ life from his own kinsmen. I’m reminded of the hauntingly beautiful painting by Luc Olivier Merson called, “Rest On The Flight into Egypt,” which depicts the Holy Family’s evening rest during their journey. Mary and the baby Jesus are asleep, sheltered in the arms of a sphinx, while Joseph is asleep on the sand a few feet away where he can hear or see danger coming more easily. Despite exhaustion, Joseph’s willingness to sacrifice his own sleep for the sake of the Holy Family captivates. It is a beautiful portrayal of the selfless heroism of the head of the Holy Family. St. Joseph, teach all fathers and husbands to imitate your selfless heroism by putting the needs of family members and loved ones ahead of our own.
Four
Jesus is known as "The carpenter's son" which shows that even outside of his hometown Joseph’s trade was recognized. He must’ve been good. In fact, St. Joseph’s skill is how God the Father chose to provide for Jesus and Mary, which in turn reveals His providence for the world! Through skill, virtue, and hard work, God uses fathers to this very day as a powerful force to shape, lead, and even save families. Clearly Satan knows God’s plan and has been working overtime to destroy fatherhood in homes so to destroy society. The father wound is all too prevalent. Every person has a deep longing in their heart to hear from their father the same words Christ heard from His Father, “This is my beloved Son (or daughter), in whom I am well-pleased” (Matt 3:17; 17:5). The father wound can be described as the deficiency or absence of love from your birth father or father figures, whether intentional or unintentional. This wound causes so many social and relational ills. It reveals how deep our need is to be loved and affirmed by our dads. For this reason, God gives us St. Joseph, a human dad who will not disappoint. St Joseph, protect our holy families, intercede to heal all father wounds, and help us hear from our Heavenly Father that we are His beloved and in us, too, He is pleased!
Five
Both Joseph's experienced death which cut short their ability to continue to provide for their kin. For Joseph in the Old Testament, the family he saved from famine would eventually be enslaved by the Egyptians. In the New, St. Joseph may have died before his son's passion, but he nevertheless knew of its immanence due to Simeon’s prophecy. He gave up his life anyway as a sign of his ultimate confidence in God.
Have you ever thought of Joseph's death? He is the patron of a happy death because he died surrounded by his holy family. Mary knew of Christ's power, as is clear when She asks him to turn water into wine at the wedding feast. Mary could have asked Jesus to bring Joseph back to life which Jesus could have accomplished. He loved his father. But Jesus chose to experience the deep sorrow of the death of a parent. He knew that God's plan encompassed all things, and used all things for good, even death. He knew that the Father’s plan consisted in a new heavens and new earth, a renewed creation freed from sin, but to get to this reality, all must first cross the threshold of death, even St. Joseph. Oh, Patron of a happy death, intercede and prepare us well, that we may not fear death, either our own or that of a loved one, but recognize God’s pan despite it, and to trust in your loving help in those times so that we, too, can trustingly pass from death to life everlasting. Amen!