St Joseph as Dreamer and Disciple: The Gospels View By Arthur E. Zannoni Pre Note: On December 8, 2020, Pope Francis proclaimed in an Apostolic Letter entitled “Patris corde” (“With a Father’s Heart”) a “Year of Saint Joseph” from December 8, 2020, to December 8, 2021. Also, the Church celebrates the Solemnity (feast) of St. Joseph liturgically on March 19. Thus, the following reflection is offered on Joseph's biblical roots, the spouse of Mary, the mother of Jesus. What the Gospels Reveal About St. Joseph The only source we have for St. Joseph is the gospels. He is mentioned sixteen times in three of the four gospels. Matthew mentions him eight times, Luke seven times, and John once. This singular reference to Joseph in John's gospel (6:41-42) only refers to Joseph as the father of Jesus. The Portrayal of Joseph in the Gospel of Matthew In Matthew's gospel's infancy narrative, the first time Joseph is mentioned is in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-17), and he is called the husband of Mary (1:16). The second time Joseph is referred to as betrothed to Mary. They are engaged, “but before they lived together, she [Mary] was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit” (1:18). Mary and Joseph are between two stages of ancient Jewish marriage. The first is the formal consent in the home of the father of the bride. The second, made later, is the transfer of the bride to the house of the groom. In the Jewish legal view, Mary and Joseph's betrothal was considered a legally contracted marriage, completed before they cohabitated. The reader knows that Mary's pregnancy is from the Holy Spirit, but Joseph does not. Joseph is described as a "righteous man," one who lives according to the law of God and seeks to fulfill God's will in every respect. How could he simultaneously show faithfulness to God's law and also devoted concern for Mary? According to the law, narrated in Deuteronomy, he could have exposed her to the humiliation of a public procedure. If she had been found guilty of having a child outside of marriage, she could have been stoned to death. Instead, Joseph decided to shield her from shame by giving her the prescribed document of divorce privately. Joseph's agonizing over his decision is cut short by God's revelation in a dream (1:20-21). The angel calls Joseph "son of David," which immediately reminds the reader of the messianic prophecy made to King David that a descendent of his would occupy the throne (see 2 Samuel 7). Joseph will be the link then that joins Jesus to the family of David. The angel also tells Joseph to marry Mary, which he does (1:24). By taking Mary as his wife and into his home, assuming public responsibility for her care and the child's, and by giving the child a name, Joseph becomes the legal father of Jesus. In another dream (Matthew 2:13-15), the angel tells Joseph to flee with his family to Egypt to avoid the genocide of King Herod, who massacred the holy innocents. The account resembles the great epic of Joseph the patriarch in the book of Genesis (see Genesis chapters 37-50). Joseph, the Son of Jacob, was known as a dreamer and an interpreter of dreams. He saved his family from destruction by bringing Jacob, his father, and his brothers from Canaan into Egypt. In the New Testament, Joseph, Mary’s spouse, relives his Jewish ancestor's life by responding to God's revelation 1 in dreams. He, too, travels to Egypt to seek refuge for his family, saving them from destruction.The three became illegal aliens, refugees, immigrants, and strangers fleeing to a land that once enslaved their people. Jesus and his parents will know the same fear that the Israelites knew when they lived in bondage. As God acted before on behalf of the Israelites, the time will come when God tells Joseph to return to Judah. Matthew's quoting of Hebrew Scriptures reveals clearly what is happening and who this child is: "Out of Egypt I have called my son" (Hosea 11:1). This passage initially referred to Moses, but Jesus in the gospel of Matthew is the new Moses. He, too, will follow in the footsteps of his ancestors in faith. In yet another dream of Joseph (Matthew 2:19-20), the angel tells Joseph that it is safe for the Holy Family to return from Egypt. This was relieving news for Joseph and his young family. For now, those who sought to kill the child [Jesus] are dead. But Joseph has also learned wisdom, and when he hears that Herod Archelaus, Herod’s equally ruthless son, had succeeded his father as king, Joseph instead returns to Galilee and Nazareth. Joseph’s wisdom is a blend of dreams, common sense, and knowledge of both the world and Sacred Scripture. Joseph, who never speaks, faithfully did whatever he was given to do by God. He does God's will. Thus, Joseph stands at the beginning of Matthew’s gospel as a model of Matthew's hopes for all disciples, and indeed for each reader of the gospel. Like Joseph, we are also called in our own lives to do God's will. The Portrayal of Joseph in the Gospel of Luke In Luke’s story of Jesus’ birth, Mary leads the story development. Except for a brief designation as Mary’s fiancé (Luke 1:27), Joseph does not appear on the scene until the time of Jesus’ birth. In Luke, Joseph’s home is not Bethlehem but Nazareth. In Luke, Joseph and Mary only visit Bethlehem from Nazareth to be registered, and Mary gives birth to Jesus during the visit (Luke 2:4-7). Luke portrays Joseph as a faithful observer of the Torah (Jewish Law). Luke implies that Joseph circumcises the baby after eight days (Luke 2:21). Along with Mary, Joseph dedicates the baby to God in the Temple and offers a sacrifice for Mary’s purification (Luke 2:21-24) and is amazed at what Simeon and Anna say about the child's future (Luke 2:33). Joseph and Mary, and Jesus make the annual pilgrimages to Jerusalem for Passover (Luke 2:41). Joseph is also mentioned in Luke’s genealogy of Jesus (Luke 3:23-38). Later, in Luke's Gospel, Jesus is referred to by his compatriots as “son of Joseph” (Luke 4:22). In sum, Luke portrays Joseph as a devoted spouse and observant Jew and as the father and protector of Jesus. Joseph A Model for All Believers Like Joseph, we are all challenged to pay attention to our dreams, for God can reveal through them. Like Joseph, we remain silent to listen for what God is calling us to do as disciples of Jesus. We can look to Joseph as our model, as one who hears the word of God and acts because of it. Like Joseph, no word of response is needed, just action. For Reflection: What role do dreams play in your life? What does it mean for you to be a disciple of Jesus? 2 .