March 19 is the principal Feast Day of St. Joseph, spouse/husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It has a rank of a Solemnity. Though we are in lent, the colour is white, sing the Gloria, Creed is recited. It is the Patron Feast Day of Poland, Canada, persons named Joseph and Josephine, for religious Institutions, Schools, and Parishes bearing His name and for Carpenters. “Happy Feast Day to all Joseph’s and Josephine’s”

In Christian tradition, Joseph has been given a much lower profile than Mary. One reason for this is that, whereas we give the title, Mother of Jesus to Mary, we reserve the title Father of Jesus to the Heavenly Father in our bid to highlight the Divinity of Christ. A second reason has been our reluctance to call Joseph the Husband of Mary in a bid to highlight the Virginity of Mary.

Today Vatican II has tried to correct this imbalance by presenting Joseph for what he was: Husband and Father of Jesus. Joseph was husband and Father in a real, if not in a biological sense. Today’s feast invites us to meditate about Joseph, Our Lord Jesus’s legal and foster Father- Because of that function which he performed regarding Christ during his childhood and youth, he has been declared Patron or Protector of the Church which continues Christ’s image and mission in time and reflects them in History.

At first sight, there seems to be no material for meditation on Joseph. For what do we know of him apart from his name? and a few events that occurred in our Lord’s childhood? The gospel does not record a single word from Him, his language is silence! There is a saying, “When you are wrong apologise, when you are right keep silent” When Jesus got lost in Jerusalem Lk2:41-50, It was Mary who asked “Why did you do this to us? Your Father (Joseph) and I have been looking for you anxiously! Joseph is silent!

It was his attention to the Angelic voices which spoke in his sleep. It was that prompt and generous obedience which was demanded from him. It was his Job as a carpenter which earned Jesus the reputation of being the Son of the Carpenter (Mt. 13:55). We might say, that there is nothing else known of Him and it might well be said that he lived an unknown life, the life of a simple artisan, with no sign of personal greatness!  But that humble figure who was so near to Jesus and Mary was intimately connected with their life and so closely linked with the genealogy of the Messiah as to be the conclusive representative of the descendant of David (Mt 1:20).

Therefore, Joseph is revealed as being full of significance if we look at him attentively. He is the wise and faithful servant, whom the Lord has put in charge of his household (Lk 12:42) this is how today’s liturgy presents Joseph, He was the wise and faithful servant who with obedient docility accepted the will of the Lord, who entrusted him with His Family on earth to watch over it with daily devotion.

His earthly life was greater and more adventurous, full of exciting events:

1. The Gospel describes St. Joseph as a just man (Mt.1:19). He was the kind of man that all Christian men are called to be
2. Joseph was a committed man and what a commitment, total commitment to Mary, total commitment to Jesus.
3. He was compassionate – when he suspected his wife of infidelity, he planned to divorce her quietly rather than denounce her publicly and expose her to public shame and penalty.
4. He was a man of prayer and deep communion with God. He always sought God’s will and guidance in God’s words. Whatever he knew to be God’s will, he promptly did, whether to go back to his wife or emigrate to a foreign land.
5. He was a care provider – when Jesus went missing, Joseph went back to Jerusalem looking for him. When Jesus’ life was threatened, he took him with his mother and escaped to safety in Egypt till he knew it was safe to come back.
6. He was a man who respected his wife and gave her space to exercise her initiative. In the temple in Jerusalem, it was Mary who spoke up and not Joseph.
7. He was a patient man – He must have felt betrayed when he discovered that Mary was pregnant. But he did not act harshly or take matters into his own hands. He remained patient and sought divine guidance in the situation!
8. Joseph is a man who led his family by example.

TODAY WE PRAY IN A SPECIAL WAY FOR POPE FRANCIS ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE SOLEMN BEGINNING OF HIS PONTIFICATE IN 2013

Reflection by

Rev. Fr. Fredrick Kiwanuka
@Christ the King Parish, Kampala