Be a Joseph

‘Where did the man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? This is the carpenter’s son, surely?'
Mt.13:54,55

Jesus is teaching in his hometown but is rejected by the people. Knowing where he was from blinded them to the miracles that were happening before them.

This could be the last reference to Joseph in the scriptures and it's an oblique and derogatory one at that. "How could such wisdom and power come from one who's father is just a carpenter". And yet there Jesus is with wisdom and power while his foster father was Joseph the carpenter.

The man is revealed in the boy he raised. Yes, Jesus is divine but he is fully human also. Joseph would have modeled for Jesus his humanity, what a man of faith looks like. Isn't this the role of every father for his sons and daughters?

My children are now adults, most with their own children. Yet my role remains, to model what a man of faith looks like for them and their children, to be a Joseph.

Jesus, you learnt from the knee of Joseph what true manliness looked like. Help me be an authentic witness of manliness to my children and grandchildren.
Saint Joseph, please pray for me.