[To listen to the homily, click on the little black arrow below.]
For the past two weeks, we have been talking about John the Baptist. This Fourth Week of Advent, our attention is drawn to the figure of Joseph, Husband of Mary, an amazingly faithful man. Nowhere is his faithfulness more apparent than in our gospel reading today.
It helps to remember how Semitic marriage customs worked in the first century. There were four phases to the process. The first was the pounding out of the marriage contract between the fathers of the two families. This could happen as early as when the future bride and groom were children, but usually early adolescence.
Second was the Betrothal. Not unlike engagement parties of today, this was usually a nice semi-religious party with a blessing from an official of the synagogue which made the contract public.
The third phase was the transfer of the bride from her own village to the household of the groom. This was always done with a lot of pomp and circumstance. The groom would set out with great fanfare. It could be hours or it could be days before he returned. The whole town eagerly anticipated his advent. He would return with his bride and her family and companions. Of course, she was dressed as fine as her family could afford.
The fourth was the Wedding Feast. The young girls of the town would meet the caravan at the city gates and accompany the caravan to the groom’s household where the wedding feast would take place as well as the other attendant details that followed, including the consummation of the marriage.
So, when Mary is found with child after the betrothal but before he takes her into his home, it is a problem. It’s hard for us today to appreciate how much of a problem it is. The part of the Law which typically gets cited is Deuteronomy 22:21, which states that if proof of virginity is not found:
they shall bring the young woman to the entrance of her father’s house and there the men of her town shall stone her to death…Thus shall you purge the evil from your midst.*
[*It’s actually a rather facile reference since it is unlikely the Roman occupational authorities would have allowed for a public stoning at that time.]
Joseph, however, opts for a more discrete and charitable solution allowed for in the Law by intending to her divorce her quietly.
So, when the Angel Gabriel comes to him in a dream and tells him to take Mary into his home, it is no small thing.
I marvel at the faith of Joseph. No doubt, from the time of the betrothal, he was anticipating a completely different life with Mary as his wife. But then he is confronted with the shock of her unexpected pregnancy. He changes his plans. THEN, there is the message of the Angel. Joseph, the faithful and just man, believes the angel and does what his faith tells him. Joseph changes his plans.
I want the faith of Joseph. I want the serenity of a faith that can change its plans to match God’s plans. I want the grace to truly pray “THY will be done.” Not “MY will be done.”
God did well in choosing Joseph as the husband of Mary and protector of the Holy Family. I also believe that God has done well in choosing each one of us for our own role in the building of the Kingdom and the proclamation of the Good News. May we have the grace to discern God’s will and carry it out with a faith like that of St. Joseph.