During His public ministry Our Lord often taught many lessons by interpreting incidents of the Old Testament in the light of His own life and actions. On the very day of His Resurrection, appearing to two disconsolate disciples on the road to Emmaus, "beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things referring to Himself." If we search the Scriptures, we can learn much, too, about Saint Joseph, last of the patriarchs, son of David.
From the fact that God allowed him to be called and thought of as father of the Divine Child, you may judge how great a man Joseph was. His very name suggests it, for Joseph means increase. And remember, too, the great patriarch, who once upon a time was sold into Egypt (Genesis 37:28); you must know that the later Joseph inherited his chastity, his innocence, and his grace, as well as his name. The first Joseph, sold through his brothers' jealousy, foreshadowed the selling of Christ by treachery; the second Joseph, seeking refuge from the jealousy of Herod, took Christ away into Egypt. The first, keeping faith with his master, refused to lie with his master's lady (Genesis 39:12); the second, respecting the maidenhood of his Lady, the Mother of his Lord, was faithful to his own chastity. The first had the gift of interpreting dreams (Genesis 40, 41); it was given to the second to know and share in heavenly mysteries. The first laid in stores of wheat, for himself and for all the people of the land of Egypt (Genesis 41:47-57); to the second was entrusted the care of the living Bread from Heaven, for himself and for the whole world. There can be no doubt that the Joseph to whom the Mother of the Saviour was betrothed was a good and faithful man; he was a "faithful and prudent servant" (Matthew 24:45), whom God raised up to be His Mother's helpmate, guardian of His own flesh, the sole and very faithful helper on earth in the great work of His Incarnation.
Add to this that he was of the family of David. Indeed was he a true son of that kingly house, noble in his descent, yet more noble in his mind. A true son of David; no degenerate offspring of his ancestor but truly a son, not simply according to the flesh but in faith, holiness, and devotion. In Joseph, as though he were another David, the Lord found a man after His own heart (cf. Acts 13:22), to whom He could safely entrust the most holy and hidden secrets. To him, as to David, God showed the hidden things of His wisdom (cf. Psalm 50:8), and gave him knowledge of a mystery that was hidden from the great ones of the earth. Lastly, it was given to Joseph, not simply to see and hear Him whom many kings and prophets had desired to see, and saw not, desired to hear, and heard not (cf. Matthew 13:17); but as well, to carry, lead, embrace, kiss, nurture, and protect Him. We must suppose that Mary, too, was descended from the house of David, for otherwise she would not have been betrothed to a man of that house. Both, then, were of the house of David; but it was only in Mary that the promise which the Lord had sworn to David was fulfilled: Joseph was but the witness to the fulfillment of the promise.
- Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, "Homily Missus Est"
- text taken from Joseph, Son of David, compiled and edited by Sister Emily Joseph, C.S.J.