2 Sam 7:4-5, 12-14, 16 / Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22 / Luke 2:41-51
Needless to say, whenever the topic of family life is discussed, one of the common problems is about the challenges that parents faced in bringing up their children.
Very often two models are offered for parents in the way they bring up their children.
One model for mothers is Mary, who can easily be related with and there is also a strong devotion to her.
The model often offered to fathers is St. Joseph. Yet there is so little information about him in the scriptures, much less about how he brought up Jesus.
Furthermore we may even think that St. Joseph had it easy - his wife was sinless, and Jesus was the Son of God.
But what about this? He didn't know how his wife got pregnant before they were married. His kid left them for three days without telling them where he was.
Yet, no word and no speech of St. Joseph was recorded in the gospels.
But maybe his silence was his greatest asset and quality.
It portrayed him as a listening and understanding person.
He listened carefully to God, and although he might not have understood fully what God's will was for him, he faithfully obeyed and did as he was told.
St. Joseph is not just a model for fathers. He is a model of faith and love for us who want to do God's will and walk in the ways of the Lord.