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The Revelation to Joseph
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 1,18-25.
18Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ 22All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel’, which means, ‘God is with us.’ 24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
Reflection 1
Saint Joseph – The Many Virtues, Known and Unknown
St Joseph often referred as the ‘silent saint’ because the gospels do not record any of his spoken words, plays a key role in Christianity as the earthly father of Jesus and the spouse of the Virgin Mary.
We can never fully understand the depth of his role because he has many known and unknown virtues.
We are given glimpses of his character through his actions, yet the depths of his interior life are hidden, as a treasure not fully revealed. His obedience to God's will, often without words, is perhaps one of his most powerful virtues. In the silence of his actions—his decision to marry Mary, his willingness to accept the divine will through dreams, his protection of the Holy Family—St. Joseph models what it means to trust in God, even when the full picture of God's plan is not yet clear.
His virtues, both known and unknown, are a light for all of us, guiding us toward greater holiness, humility, and trust in God.
Saint Joseph the just and merciful
The Gospels tell us that Joseph sought to divorce Mary quietly (Matt 1:19), showing his merciful nature, seeking to protect her from shame despite the personal confusion he must have felt.
What about us: St Joseph’s decision to protect Mary from public humiliation reveals a deep justice that is guided by mercy, not condemnation. This is a key virtue we can all learn from: how to act justly while extending mercy and how to balance between justice and mercy in our own lives.
Saint Joseph's Silent Suffering
Unlike many figures in the Bible who expressed their doubts or demands for clarity, Joseph didn’t ask for an explanation instead, he silently bore his pain.
What about us: our faith is often tested in moments of confusion and suffering, when we must lean not on our own understanding, but on the assurance that God is present and working, even when we can't see the whole picture.
Trust in the Unseen
Joseph trusted God without demanding visible signs or explanations. He didn't question when the angel appeared to him in a dream, nor did he demand clarity when Mary was found to be pregnant. He trusted God's plan even when the path ahead seemed unclear.
What about us: Saint Joseph teaches us to deepen our faith in God, even when we can't see the outcome, trusting that He is always at work in our lives.
Discern God’s will
Saint Joseph had the ability to discern God's will, differentiating between dreams and reality.
What about us: Like Saint Joseph, we are called to discern God's will in our lives, trusting Him to guide us through both clarity and uncertainty.
Thought of the week
“Those who struggle for virtue in community life will have greater merit.”
Saint Nimatullah Al-Hardini
Challenge of the Week
Reflect on a time when God's plan differed from your own expectations.
Pray for the grace to trust His plan, especially when it challenges your own.
Reflection 2
Discerning God’s will
Little is known about St. Joseph. No memorable words have come down to us from this man, and yet we sense his strength in silent acceptance of the Word of God. Within the Gospels, St. Joseph has no recorded words, but he is portrayed as a pious and righteous man who refused to expose Mary to shame when he discovered she was pregnant.
As Joseph contemplated his situation, the angel of the Lord appeared to him. Matthew highlights the difference between human thought and divine thought. Joseph initially sought a solution using his own abilities and human logic. However, his solution, grounded in his humanity, compassion and mercy, did not align with God’s plan. Therefore, God intervened in his life to incorporate him into His plan.
When Joseph woke up from the dream, he did everything the angel told him to do: he moved from a state of faith to a state of action, he put faith into practice.
It is easy to say “I believe,” but faith is expressed when we put it into action. By taking Mary into his home, Joseph entered into the heart of God’s plan of salvation.
How many times in our lives do we live this same experience, finding ourselves torn between our own will and what God asks of us, between desire and duty, between our plans and the courage to follow God. Joseph did not hesitate about God’s intervention in his life. He is a man of faith, and faith does not need many explanations. Rather, it needs the courage to trust God and surrender to Him.
Another virtue of Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph's virtues are numerous. Another virtue that distinguished Saint Joseph was his ability to discern God's will, effectively differentiating between dreams and reality.
Joseph’s dreams were different. They were clear communications from God.
St. Joseph was able to discern God’s will and to deal with the new reality by making himself available to God’s plan with the entirety of his heart—believing, trusting, hoping, and loving despite the difficulties he faced.
Joseph as an earthly father
The role Joseph plays in the life of Jesus is quite substantial. He scarcely appears throughout the New Testament. His main contributions are those of service. He thus exemplifies the earthly qualities expected of an earthly father, that is, service, humility, obedience to God and so on. The overarching temperament of Joseph is one which ought to be admired as a figure worth modelling. To live our lives following the example of Joseph is to stay true to our Christianity. By M.A
Challenge of the week
I should try like St. Joseph to take my daily trials and problems without complaint and in silence if possible, so that I may be the only one to suffer from them.
Thought of the week
Teach us Saint Joseph to leave the field open for God’s action in our lives.
Prepare the Way of the Lord
This season, let us commit ourselves to the Lord; in our prayer, in the choices we make in our day to day living, in our openness to let something new come into our lives and transform us. The more we come to know Jesus, the more we understand why it is right to choose Him as the One to follow.
Gwen Simon
Reflection 3
The Way of St. Joseph
Little is known about St. Joseph. No memorable word has come down to us form this man, and yet we sense him to be strong in silent acceptance of the Word of God. Within the Gospels, St. Joseph has no recorded words but he is presented to us as a pious man and blameless, who refused to expose Mary to shame.
St Joseph did not understand what was happening but God explained it to him in a dream. He was open to a mystery beyond his imagination and was obedient to God’s call. His deep faith made him change his plan in response to the message from God.
St Joseph had an essential role in the Incarnation, just like Our Lady. His ‘yes’ to God’s call was essential, just like Our Lady’s.
Joseph as an earthly father
The role Joseph plays in the life of Jesus is quite substantial. He scarcely appears throughout the New Testament. His main contributions are those of service. He thus exemplifies the earthly qualities expected of an earthly father, that is, service, humility, obedience to God and so on. The overarching temperament of Joseph is one which ought to be admired as a figure worth modelling. To live our lives following the example of Joseph is to stay true to our Christianity.
Reflection by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge
Joseph committed himself to God, and he expressed his commitment through his actions. Interestingly, Joseph is never quoted in Scripture. We are only told of his actions. This too is a reflection of his humility and his obedience to God. His silent works exemplify that God reveals Himself in both words and deeds, and the deeds of Joseph speak volumes. Truly, Joseph’s actions at the beginning of Jesus’ life were the instruments through which God fulfilled in Christ the prophecies of old: naming Jesus, protecting Jesus and Mary in their exile in Egypt, and taking them to Nazareth.
When the angel appeared to Joseph, he was asked to make difficult decisions, but Joseph did not seek guarantees for his actions or answers to his questions, rather, he simply accepted and believed in the Word of God and acted upon it. May we be granted the wisdom to know God's will in our lives and to become like St. Joseph by believing and trusting in God's Word. Gwen Simon
Key Points
-God took a poor, humble carpenter and used him to carry out an important heavenly mission.
-St. Joseph was a just and obedient man who did exactly what the Lord wanted him to do.
-We should accept and trust in the Word of God and not allow ourselves to critically judge others as St Joseph did.
-When faced with difficult decisions we should rely on God.
-To live our lives following the example of Joseph is to stay true to our Christianity.
-As fathers and husbands you are called to develop the virtues and the integrity that saint joseph have.
-God is looking for people who will take of the tasks He assigns them to do like Saint Joseph. He is looking for people who possess the right kind of testimony and who will go with Him until their task is accomplished.
Thought of the Week
The person of hope lives in the moment, with the knowledge and trust that all of life is in good hands.
Challenge of the week
I should try like St. Joseph to take my daily trials and problems like he did without complaint and in silence if possible, so that I may be the only one to suffer from them.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 1,18-25.
18Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ 22All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel’, which means, ‘God is with us.’ 24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
Reflection 1
Saint Joseph – The Many Virtues, Known and Unknown
St Joseph often referred as the ‘silent saint’ because the gospels do not record any of his spoken words, plays a key role in Christianity as the earthly father of Jesus and the spouse of the Virgin Mary.
We can never fully understand the depth of his role because he has many known and unknown virtues.
We are given glimpses of his character through his actions, yet the depths of his interior life are hidden, as a treasure not fully revealed. His obedience to God's will, often without words, is perhaps one of his most powerful virtues. In the silence of his actions—his decision to marry Mary, his willingness to accept the divine will through dreams, his protection of the Holy Family—St. Joseph models what it means to trust in God, even when the full picture of God's plan is not yet clear.
His virtues, both known and unknown, are a light for all of us, guiding us toward greater holiness, humility, and trust in God.
Saint Joseph the just and merciful
The Gospels tell us that Joseph sought to divorce Mary quietly (Matt 1:19), showing his merciful nature, seeking to protect her from shame despite the personal confusion he must have felt.
What about us: St Joseph’s decision to protect Mary from public humiliation reveals a deep justice that is guided by mercy, not condemnation. This is a key virtue we can all learn from: how to act justly while extending mercy and how to balance between justice and mercy in our own lives.
Saint Joseph's Silent Suffering
Unlike many figures in the Bible who expressed their doubts or demands for clarity, Joseph didn’t ask for an explanation instead, he silently bore his pain.
What about us: our faith is often tested in moments of confusion and suffering, when we must lean not on our own understanding, but on the assurance that God is present and working, even when we can't see the whole picture.
Trust in the Unseen
Joseph trusted God without demanding visible signs or explanations. He didn't question when the angel appeared to him in a dream, nor did he demand clarity when Mary was found to be pregnant. He trusted God's plan even when the path ahead seemed unclear.
What about us: Saint Joseph teaches us to deepen our faith in God, even when we can't see the outcome, trusting that He is always at work in our lives.
Discern God’s will
Saint Joseph had the ability to discern God's will, differentiating between dreams and reality.
What about us: Like Saint Joseph, we are called to discern God's will in our lives, trusting Him to guide us through both clarity and uncertainty.
Thought of the week
“Those who struggle for virtue in community life will have greater merit.”
Saint Nimatullah Al-Hardini
Challenge of the Week
Reflect on a time when God's plan differed from your own expectations.
Pray for the grace to trust His plan, especially when it challenges your own.
Reflection 2
Discerning God’s will
Little is known about St. Joseph. No memorable words have come down to us from this man, and yet we sense his strength in silent acceptance of the Word of God. Within the Gospels, St. Joseph has no recorded words, but he is portrayed as a pious and righteous man who refused to expose Mary to shame when he discovered she was pregnant.
As Joseph contemplated his situation, the angel of the Lord appeared to him. Matthew highlights the difference between human thought and divine thought. Joseph initially sought a solution using his own abilities and human logic. However, his solution, grounded in his humanity, compassion and mercy, did not align with God’s plan. Therefore, God intervened in his life to incorporate him into His plan.
When Joseph woke up from the dream, he did everything the angel told him to do: he moved from a state of faith to a state of action, he put faith into practice.
It is easy to say “I believe,” but faith is expressed when we put it into action. By taking Mary into his home, Joseph entered into the heart of God’s plan of salvation.
How many times in our lives do we live this same experience, finding ourselves torn between our own will and what God asks of us, between desire and duty, between our plans and the courage to follow God. Joseph did not hesitate about God’s intervention in his life. He is a man of faith, and faith does not need many explanations. Rather, it needs the courage to trust God and surrender to Him.
Another virtue of Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph's virtues are numerous. Another virtue that distinguished Saint Joseph was his ability to discern God's will, effectively differentiating between dreams and reality.
Joseph’s dreams were different. They were clear communications from God.
St. Joseph was able to discern God’s will and to deal with the new reality by making himself available to God’s plan with the entirety of his heart—believing, trusting, hoping, and loving despite the difficulties he faced.
Joseph as an earthly father
The role Joseph plays in the life of Jesus is quite substantial. He scarcely appears throughout the New Testament. His main contributions are those of service. He thus exemplifies the earthly qualities expected of an earthly father, that is, service, humility, obedience to God and so on. The overarching temperament of Joseph is one which ought to be admired as a figure worth modelling. To live our lives following the example of Joseph is to stay true to our Christianity. By M.A
Challenge of the week
I should try like St. Joseph to take my daily trials and problems without complaint and in silence if possible, so that I may be the only one to suffer from them.
Thought of the week
Teach us Saint Joseph to leave the field open for God’s action in our lives.
Prepare the Way of the Lord
This season, let us commit ourselves to the Lord; in our prayer, in the choices we make in our day to day living, in our openness to let something new come into our lives and transform us. The more we come to know Jesus, the more we understand why it is right to choose Him as the One to follow.
Gwen Simon
Reflection 3
The Way of St. Joseph
Little is known about St. Joseph. No memorable word has come down to us form this man, and yet we sense him to be strong in silent acceptance of the Word of God. Within the Gospels, St. Joseph has no recorded words but he is presented to us as a pious man and blameless, who refused to expose Mary to shame.
St Joseph did not understand what was happening but God explained it to him in a dream. He was open to a mystery beyond his imagination and was obedient to God’s call. His deep faith made him change his plan in response to the message from God.
St Joseph had an essential role in the Incarnation, just like Our Lady. His ‘yes’ to God’s call was essential, just like Our Lady’s.
Joseph as an earthly father
The role Joseph plays in the life of Jesus is quite substantial. He scarcely appears throughout the New Testament. His main contributions are those of service. He thus exemplifies the earthly qualities expected of an earthly father, that is, service, humility, obedience to God and so on. The overarching temperament of Joseph is one which ought to be admired as a figure worth modelling. To live our lives following the example of Joseph is to stay true to our Christianity.
Reflection by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge
Joseph committed himself to God, and he expressed his commitment through his actions. Interestingly, Joseph is never quoted in Scripture. We are only told of his actions. This too is a reflection of his humility and his obedience to God. His silent works exemplify that God reveals Himself in both words and deeds, and the deeds of Joseph speak volumes. Truly, Joseph’s actions at the beginning of Jesus’ life were the instruments through which God fulfilled in Christ the prophecies of old: naming Jesus, protecting Jesus and Mary in their exile in Egypt, and taking them to Nazareth.
When the angel appeared to Joseph, he was asked to make difficult decisions, but Joseph did not seek guarantees for his actions or answers to his questions, rather, he simply accepted and believed in the Word of God and acted upon it. May we be granted the wisdom to know God's will in our lives and to become like St. Joseph by believing and trusting in God's Word. Gwen Simon
Key Points
-God took a poor, humble carpenter and used him to carry out an important heavenly mission.
-St. Joseph was a just and obedient man who did exactly what the Lord wanted him to do.
-We should accept and trust in the Word of God and not allow ourselves to critically judge others as St Joseph did.
-When faced with difficult decisions we should rely on God.
-To live our lives following the example of Joseph is to stay true to our Christianity.
-As fathers and husbands you are called to develop the virtues and the integrity that saint joseph have.
-God is looking for people who will take of the tasks He assigns them to do like Saint Joseph. He is looking for people who possess the right kind of testimony and who will go with Him until their task is accomplished.
Thought of the Week
The person of hope lives in the moment, with the knowledge and trust that all of life is in good hands.
Challenge of the week
I should try like St. Joseph to take my daily trials and problems like he did without complaint and in silence if possible, so that I may be the only one to suffer from them.
