We always focus on
the instrumentality of Mary's fiat in
bringing the God-Man into the world; we often forget the key role played by her
husband Joseph. As I read in a daily meditation from this years' Advent
and Christmas edition of "The Word Among Us," Joseph's fiat was also
of great importance, and lent
credibility to Christ's message. By not divorcing his betrothed wife when he
found out that she was pregnant, by choosing not to expose her to the shame and
dishonor of unwed motherhood, he saved Mother and Child from the scorn of their
neighbors. It would have been more difficult for respectable people of that
time to heed and follow a Man they could only suspect was illegitimate.
Joseph's trust in God and in his wife gave him the courage to stay with Mary
and to save her and her Child from gossiping tongues an public disdain.
Still, it is worth
noting that Christ generally had little concern for what others thought. Why
did he care if people thought that He was illegitimate? He had no trouble
curing people and letting his disciples pick grain to eat on the Sabbath. He
frequented the company of tax collectors, sinners, and prostitutes. He allowed
himself to be born in a barn with animals, and to be shamefully and cruelly put
to death in the most humiliating way possible. Why did He care so much that
there be a human father in His life?
Perhaps ensuring
that Christ had an earthly father in His life was more than a face-saving move.
Perhaps Christ was showing us by example the importance of fathers. There is
plenty of evidence telling us that in
general children are better off with a male and female parent than in any other
situation. Fathers serve as an image of God the Father and as the head of the
family. Certainly God could have chosen some other means than having Joseph, as
leader and protector, guide the family to Egypt to protect them from Herod's
deathly rage. God could have left Mary
to raise the divine Child on her own. He could have worked around the existing
unfavorable opinion of unwed motherhood
as he did in so many other instances. Instead he chose to have Joseph as an
instrumental part of the upbringing of Jesus. He chose to set an example to us
all of the importance of fatherhood to any family. Let us then have the
greatest respect for Joseph, his fiat, and the fiat of all fathers who give of
themselves for their families. If even the God-Man Himself chose to have a
human father-figure in his life, then we can know that these men are important
to us all. Merry Christmas!
