Homily for the Feast of St. Joseph
by Fr. Josh Leigeber
IN+J
What an incredible example Saint Joseph is of humble faith! And an example that hits home, perhaps, a little bit more than some of the other saints we remember. Because, admittedly, a good many of the saints’ days observed in the Church’s calendar are apostles, priests, bishops, theological doctors, martyrs—and as a result, in some ways, they may sometimes seem far-removed from our day to day experience, and even, perhaps, other-worldly.
But Joseph, who, other than the Blessed Virgin, is one of the most consequential saints remembered in the liturgical year, was none of those things. He was simply a husband, and a layman, and a simple worker. His saintly example is all bound up in the fact that Joseph quietly fulfilled his family vocations of being a guardian, protector, and provider for the Blessed Mother and for our Lord Jesus Himself. As such, we see in Saint Joseph a shadow of the Heavenly Father who is the guardian, protector, and provider for us all, and an image of what being a faithful husband and father looks like.
In particular, we see how within those vocations, Joseph’s faithfulness comes as a result of—and together with—his humbly and faithfully listening to the Word of God and doing whatever it is that God has given him to do. Joseph never hesitates to obey, and he never draws attention to Himself. The only word he is recorded as saying in the Sacred Scriptures is at the birth of our Lord when he calls His name JESUS, in accordance with the divine angelic pronouncement that the Child will save His people from their sins. Joseph simply follows God’s direction and command, and as a result, he lives a life of strong and yet modest care and self-giving to Mary and Jesus. He just fulfills his vocations and follows the Word of God.
Husbands and fathers: you too are called to be guardians, protectors, and providers for your wife and your children. This is the vocation you have been given and what God has called you to. And you are to fulfill those responsibilities never from a posture of being overbearing or harsh, but from a position of strong yet humble love and self-giving. And in that Saint Joseph is your model. This means that you are called to lead your household; to guard your family (with God’s help) from the influences of the devil and the world. And most of all, it means that you are to hear and heed God’s Word and to make Christ and the Word of Christ central within your family’s life.
Everyone: like Blessed Joseph, you too are called to be faithful laypeople who listen to the Word of God, cling to Christ, and do whatever it is God has given you to do within your various vocations. You have not been called to be apostles, priests, bishops, theological doctors, or God-willing, martyrs, but you have all been given particular callings from God and vitally important responsibilities within those various callings. As you seek to carry them out, strive to follow the example of Saint Joseph by submitting to God’s Word in all humility and, within your daily life and the living out of your vocations, to guard and protect, like Joseph, the dignity of the sacred life and confession of Jesus. And as you do, through Jesus, who has saved you from your sins, you will be temporally and eternally blessed.
IN+J
Catholic Jonesboro 