St. Joseph in the Hidden Years

St. Joseph plays an important role in the Gospels - but he is only there for part of them.

He is betrothed to Mary, after her pregnancy is visited by an angel and marries her, he travels with her to Bethlehem for the Nativity, is there when the shepherds and Magi come to adore, and takes the family to Egypt to avoid Herod's threat, returns with the family to live in Nazareth. He appears again when Jesus is 12, and is "lost" at the Temple, then goes back to Nazareth with Mary and Jesus. And then he is gone. He is not present at all for the public ministry of Jesus, other than a mention of him when people refer to Jesus as the carpenter's son.

Presumably he died at some point after Jesus was 12 and before Jesus turned 30. When in those 18 years did he die? We don't know.

But we can imagine and wonder about his many roles in Jesus's life.

Did he cradle baby Jesus in his arms and sing lullabies? 

When young Jesus had an upset stomach or a bad dream, did Joseph comfort Him? 

Did he play tickle games or peek-a-boo with Him?

Did he help to feed Jesus?

Did he help to clean up messes the young Jesus made, or even wash Him?

Did he carry Him on his shoulders or toss Him in the air? 

Did he watch Jesus play or interact with friends, and did he smile as he watched?

Did he help Jesus learn table manners?

Did he show Jesus how to treat women through the way he treated Mary?

Did he talk about or demonstrate care for those who were less fortunate or who were hurting?

Did he share jokes with Jesus?

Did he join Jesus in staring at a full moon above the hills, or watching a bird soar high in the air?

Did he show Jesus how to handle a saw, a hammer, a chisel?

Did he teach Jesus his trade and involve him in the work in the shop?

Did he take Jesus with him to work on projects or to deliver things he and/or they had made?

Did he proudly take Him to the synagogue and stand at His side as they prayed?

Did he show Jesus how to face death?

I like to imagine Joseph doing all the things a good father and husband and man would do.

Pax et bonum