Saint Joseph: Man of action

I’m not going to give you all the verses in Matthew Chapter 1, but, let’s start with this;

“Now the generation of Christ was in this way. When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 

Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willingly publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately. 

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost.

And she shall bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name JESUS, for he shall save his people from their sins. 

Now, this was all done that it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet saying: Behold a virgin shall be with child and bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

And Joseph rising up from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and took unto him his wife.

And he knew her not till she brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS”.

(Matthew 1:18-25, Douay Rheims version).

Before we get started, check out my previous article; The cure for ignorance is education

I like St. Joseph.  I like how Matthew portrays him as getting stuff done.  (Read Matthew 2 for more of that).

You’ll note that Joseph doesn’t really say anything.  Well, he doesn’t say anything that Matthew recorded at least, he very well could have said something.  And I know some people are like, “well, if an angel told me my wife was pregnant with the Son of God, I’d be a little suspicious”.  I think that’s the point.  Remember, Joseph was a good man, and he didn’t want to embarrass Mary.

Him staying with her was actually a good idea.  Because this would mean that the Holy family, while having God as their Son (remember, Joseph IS Jesus’s legal father), would be a normal family.

The Christmas message would be a lot darker if they didn’t.

But one thing that I think I lot of people miss, is the Joseph gets things done. 

And some people may think “Oh, wow, this dude is a total tool”.  In a sense, that’s true.  He’s a tool to bring you to Jesus (we really should learn why that doesn’t work as an insult). 

Anyway, I wanted to talk about this, because I love how Joseph gets things done. 

I think that’s a model for us to follow.  And, because I am a huge procrastinator. (Procrastinators of the world, unite!), I think he’s a huge model for me.

And so, it is, I want all of y’all to have a Merry Christmas.  Follow St. Joseph’s lead, and remember to get things done.  Maybe that could be your New Year’s resolution!

And, to end this on a laugh; Horus Ruins Christmas

Adam Charles Hovey is the founded of the Catholicism, news, and whatever community on Locals, and hosts the weekly Bible study, Coffee and Christianity