Page 101 - Reflections on St. Joseph

For his part, Jesus ‘was obedient to them’ (Lk 2:51), respectfully returning the affection of his
‘parents.’ In this way he wished to sanctify the obligations of the family and of work, which he
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performed at the side of Joseph” .

The religious, moral and cultural formation of Jesus was due in great part to Joseph. Some authors
discover in Jesus’ parables, taken from rural and shepherding life, the teaching of Joseph. Some
domestic image of Jesus come from having watched his mother: make bread, use leaven, repair
clothing; just so other images come from having learned from Joseph: to lay a good foundation, be
a good administrator, foresee costs, etc. St. Joseph was privileged as the father and teacher of Jesus,
to accompany him and teach him in his human development..

THE SERVICE TO WATCH OVER IN SILENCE,
THE WORD WHICH SAVES, THE INCARNATE WORD

The Son of God, the Incarnate Word, in the first thirty years of his life on earth remained hidden;
he was hidden, in the shadow of St. Joseph. At the same time, Mary and Joseph remained hidden in
Christ, in his ministry and mission. “Joseph was in daily contact with the mystery "hidden from
ages past," and which "dwelt" under his roof” . Joseph related to Christ as a father with his son,
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while both lived, in all areas of affection, living together, care, authority and obedience, education,
life and death. There has never been in the world a father and son who were closer, more closely
united in love, mutual respect and common goal. There has never been in the world a father more
father than Joseph, nor a son who could feel more truly a son than Jesus. St. Joseph, “Guarded the
wealth which has been entrusted to him with a fidelity proportionate the value of this inestimable
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treasure” .

In Joseph’s house, the presence of God was lived, with all of those noble and elevated feelings which
St. Paul lists in his letter to the Colossians, and which the Liturgy has us read on the feast of the
Holy Family heartfelt compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness, patience, mutual
forgiveness, peace. (Col. 3:12)

“Christ as God had his own experience of Divine
fatherhood and of sonship in the womb of the
Most Holy Trinity. As man he experienced
sonship thanks to St. Joseph. He on his part,
offered to the child who grew by his side the
support of masculine balance, the clarity to be
able to take on problems and courage. He
exercised his role with the quality of the best of
all parents, receiving strength from the highest
source from which ‘every family in heaven and
on earth is named’ (Ef 3,15)” .
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In the recent Post-synodal Apostolic
Exhortations, “Verbum Domini” of his Holiness

Reflections on st. joseph 77