I grew up surrounded by saints.  They were powerful examples of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in the name of God.  I never confused them with God or put them in place of God, but I loved reading about them.  I loved thinking about how I would react, if placed in similar situations.

Joseph, the adopted father of Jesus, is one of my favorites.  His day is celebrated today, right after St. Patrick’s Day.  What a task he took on when he agreed to raise Jesus as his own son.  What courage he had; what faith in the word of God. 

Think about what he did.  He married a young, pregnant woman, knowing that he was not the father of her child.  He relied on his faith to stand tall in his community and honor his wife.  Not much is written in Scripture about Joseph, so it allows me to imagine what he did as Jesus’ father. 

 Think about Jesus as the human child.  He certainly grew to be a fine, outstanding man.  His human father had to have had a role in that outcome.  He fed him, clothed and housed him.  If Joseph had turned his back on Mary and her child, Jesus’s early life would have been very different, if not disastrous.  There were no social service agencies in Nazareth to help an unwed mother.

I bet that Jesus was a very good carpenter.  Taught at Joseph’s knee, he would have begun to learn his trade at a very early age.  Joseph saw to his religious education and training.   And, while he was teaching and training, I am sure that Joseph shared practical and spiritual knowledge with his son.  He shared his love of God the father.  I wonder if he ever shared the story of the angel and his acceptance of the will of God.  I wonder if Jesus was at his bedside when he died.

I wish that we knew more about this courageous man.  However, we do know the essentials.  We know that Joseph accepted God’s request and we know the result of that decision.  Jesus was born in a lowly manger in the town of Bethlehem, home of Joseph’s family of origin, descending from King David.   The Savior, foretold of old, fulfilling all the prophecies.

I am convinced that God’s unconditional love and grace sustained Joseph through his life.  That same unconditional love and grace is available to us today.  God loves you unconditionally.

Terri