A reflection on the Gospel of Matthew, highlighting Saint Joseph's role as a devoted husband and father, and the inspiration he provides to all fathers.
Today's Gospel: Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a
I am Catholic dad, so this passage has particular meaning. Also, it made me think about the birth of my first son and the circumstances that complicated his birth. One thing they don’t tell you about what to expect when you’re expecting is the unexpected. Well into my wife’s pregnancy, we were informed about a complication that if not addressed would jeopardize my son’s life. At the time, we were living in a foreign country, not fluent in the language, and with no family support system accessible. As a young couple, we were alone.
At that moment, everything changed for me. My first observation was watching my wife become completely focused on taking care of our son. Of course, she was doing this since the moment she became pregnant, but this was different, and as someone who had never experienced something like this, it was quite extraordinary. As I watched my wife become a mother, I knew what I needed to do. It was time to be a husband and father.
So, the story of Joseph speaks strongly to me. Amid all that they were going through, he knew what he had to do. He realized what was at stake, and it changed him. He was now the caretaker of his wife, their Son, and their family. He also knew this was just the beginning, and what a job he did! We can only imagine the many trials that he must have gone through, but we do know of the wife he stood by and the Son he raised, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Ponder:
In what ways can our fathers be increasingly more loving and supportive of the mothers of our children throughout their lives?
Pray:
Let us pray that all new fathers may draw inspiration from the life of Saint Joseph and that they will find a renewed devotion to him and to the miracle of fatherhood.
Pray Together:
Spend some time learning more about Saint Joseph. Pope Benedict’s The Infancy Narratives provides a wonderful way to learn more about him and the Holy Family during the early years of Jesus’ life.
Copyright 2026 Dr. Andrew Macdonald
About the Author
.png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)"){kind=logo}
Comments