When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
Matthew 1:18-25
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
3rd Misa de Gallo
Joseph was a good man who in any situation knows what is the right thing to do. So when he heard that his girl friend was pregnant, by Moses’s law he knows Mary must be punished by stoning.
But Joseph was also deeply and truly loving Mary. Although hurt by her alleged betrayal he could not bear to bring her to justice. Thus he made up his mind to divorce her quietly until the explained to him that Mary’s child is the promised Messiah.
Being just and loving, Joseph is the apt model that youth in loving relationship today must follow. To be just, couples in love must do what is right and avoid what is wrong. Premarital sex like sex outside marriage is never correct. To be loving, couple must learn to forgive and not look for another when one fails. Real test of love is forgiveness in betrayal.
Joseph albeit often quiet and seldom talked, always listened to God’s bidding and was prompt in obeying. He obeyed God when he took Mary as his wife and Jesus as his own son. He obeyed God when he fled to Egypt to save them. Joseph was a man of few words but of much actions. He is model for all Christians who not only listen to God’s words but live by them day by day.