When Joseph arose, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. St. Joseph whose memory the Church honors today is considered the second greatest saint next to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Church honors him by celebrating his feast as the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and as the foster father of Jesus. He was declared Patron of the Universal Church in 1870 by Pope Pius IX. He is the patron of workers (for which he is also celebrated as St. Joseph the Worker) and of fathers. It was through Joseph that Jesus becomes a descendant of David as the prophecies of old had foretold. There is not a lot that is known about Joseph, and the little that is known of him comes from the infancy narratives found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Nothing is heard about him after Jesus’ inauguration of his public ministry.
The Scriptures portray Joseph not only as a just, pure, gentle and prudent individual but also as one who was obedient to God. When the Lord’s call came to him, a call that tested him to his limits and one that would change his life forever, he obeyed. What God was asking of Joseph was tough by human standards. He was being asked to let go of his good name, something he had worked had to acquire over the years. If he was to take Mary into his home, that was going to be the end of his good name. Mary was found with child out of wedlock. To take her into his home was admitting that he was complicit in what she had done. We can all imagine the whispers and murmurs whenever Joseph or Mary was spotted. Yet, Joseph faithfully carried out his responsibility. And he did this without saying a word!
Joseph is celebrated by the universal Church as a model of faithful responsibility. He carried out his responsibility of providing a father figure for Jesus without complaints. Whereas we are not told of the length of his life, it is safe to assume that he cared for and loved Jesus by trying his best to understand his life and mission. As a father, Joseph was responsible for ensuring that Jesus grew up in appreciation of the tradition of his people. It was from him that Jesus learnt the history of his people as well as the teaching of the prophets. Whereas today’s Second Reading talks about the righteousness of Abraham that allowed him to become a father in faith to many nations, we read the passage today because the same can be said of Joseph. It was the righteousness of Joseph that led to God allowing Jesus to be brought up under his (Joseph’s) watch and care.  His willingness to adopt Jesus and to become his father has made him a father as well to the many brothers and sisters of Jesus.