Saint Joseph

Saint Joseph

2 Samuel 7, 4 ... 16

Psalm 88

Romans 4, 16 ... 22

Matthew 1, 16 - 24

To go further

Details

- On this picture, there is a contrast between the temple which is imposing and Joseph's house which is very small. Nevertheless, God needs Joseph to be Jesus' adoptive father, to teach him to grow up, to read, to pray.

- If we look carefully, the house, the tree and the rock make us think of the Trinity icon where, above the Father there is the house (heaven), above the Son there is a tree (the Tree of life, the tree of the Cross) and above the Holy Ghost there is the rock (or the wave which leads). This being one og the interpretations and not THE interpretation.

- Still on the picture, we can see that the Temple has one only door whereas Joseph's house has plenty. Where Jesus is, salvation is proposed at the four corners of the world.

- There is only one way that leads to Josep's house. Jesus is the way that leads to the Father's house.

- The rock, on the right of the tree, is shaped like an ear. This is the Holy Ghost listening.

Questions

- In his life, Joseph has constantly been pushed around by the Holy Ghost. Maybe he had planned for a straight well-framed life. Here he is, finding out his fiancée is pregnant, that the child is coming from the Holy Ghost and that God chose him to be his adoptive father. He must flee from Herod who wants to eliminate the child ... His whole life takes a different turn to what he had expected. Yet he keeps trust and staith faithful.

- What about me ? What does Joseph's behaviour tell me about my life ?