Saint Joseph reflected the light of Jesus

Joseph exercised his paternal role in self-denial, starting with a double renunciation: first, the renunciation of natural paternity with regard to Jesus, who was not begotten of his flesh. Secondly, a renunciation of any physical relations Mary, since she conceived without him, by the action of the Holy Spirit. It is within this double renunciation that Joseph became the foster father of the Son of the Eternal Father. In Jesus, God wanted to obey a man. Jesus obeys Joseph, who himself obeys the Father. Joseph knew the superiority of his adopted child . And it is within this knowledge that his profound humility lies.

By giving Him the name of Jesus, as Saint Matthew tells us (the first proclamation of the Good News), by spilling the first drops of Jesus' blood during His circumcision, as a prelude to His Passion and by saving the Author of Salvation from Herod's wrath by fleeing to Egypt, Joseph providentially initiated his adoptive Son to His redemptive mission, to His sacrificial and priestly vocation. But he always carried out this prophetic mission behind the scenes, fading more and more from our view, as if walking backward, until Jesus took up all the room, and until, like John the Baptist, he disappeared completely from the Gospel, as Jesus entered His public ministry.

To those who love Him, God is not simply present in them. He continues to "manifest" Himself through them. Something of Him becomes visible to others, since a spark of His love beats in the hearts of His disciples. Therefore Joseph, who was so close to his Son, reflected the light of Jesus to us. To this day, Joseph's faith speaks to us of God's great humility and of His infinite fatherhood.

Bishop Dominique Rey of Fréjus-Toulon, France

Homily given at the Shrine of Bessillon (Cotignac, southern France) where Saint Joseph is especially venerated. 

March 16, 2013