“‘Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’…He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them.”
Today, the Solemnity of St. Joseph, holds two Gospel options and reflecting on both, I was astounded by the figure of St. Joseph and his relationship with Jesus. Based on the readings today and the other passages speaking of him in the bible, St. Joseph is obedient, strong, righteous, and humble–so much so that Jesus was obedient to him as well.
Reflecting on the few passages about St. Joseph, I started thinking about my relationship with my parents: the many years of yelling, disobedience, and shutting out (both mentally and physically). But through all the difficulties, my dad was still there to quietly support and anchor me. In a lot of ways, I can see St. Joseph working through my dad, and so just as Jesus was obedient to his father, I feel called to be obedient to mine.
In today’s readings, we are reminded of St. Joseph and all he stood for. I pray that all members of our community be blessed with his humility, obedience, righteousness, and strength as we grow in our relationship with God, and that we too can see St. Joseph’s work in our earthly father figures.
— Matthew Tu