The Espousals
I. “A virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David” (Luke ii. 27). The time arrived when, in the ordinary course, the Blessed Virgin had to leave the shelter of the temple and go forth into the world; the time was also at hand appointed for the appearance of the Son of God in human nature. God had prepared in advance not only a mother for the Messias, but also a faithful servant, who should be the representative of the Eternal Father on earth, in watching over, and providing for, and ruling the Child and His Mother. This was Joseph, a just man; he was the eldest male representative of the house of David, the rightful inheritor of the throne and of all the royal prerogatives; he was in some degree related to the Blessed Virgin, who was also descended from David by another line. To noble descent he united lowliness of position; he was a poor artisan working for his daily bread in an obscure village; a representative at once of the mighty and the humble.
Divine Providence, ruling all things sweetly, arranged that the Holy Virgin should be given in marriage to this just man, who would subordinate himself to the designs of heaven, and respect the vow of perpetual virginity made by his spouse. He was the “faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath set over His family, to give them meat in season” (Matt. xxiv. 45). Admire the wonderful fidelity of this holy man. Strive like him to be faithful to whatever trust has been laid on you by Divine Providence.
II. This marriage was necessary for the accomplishment of the designs of God. The Messias was to be Son of David. Our Lord derived His physical descent from him through the Blessed Virgin; but as women were not reckoned in legal genealogy, it was through the lawful spouse of His Mother that Christ inherited His royal succession to David. Therefore the Evangelists give us in the Gospels the two lines of Our Lord’s descent.
Another reason for this marriage was to maintain till the proper time the secret for Our Lord’s divine personality; for according to the divine decree, “when the Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence He is” (John vii. 27). On account of men’s perversity, the facts had to be concealed from them for awhile, lest the enemies of Christ should have seized the opportunity of blaspheming against His uncomprehended sanctity, and His Mother’s good fame.
The Virgin and her Child also required a man’s protection during the long years of the Divine Infancy, and the perils of the journey to Bethlehem, and the exile in a foreign land. God appointed no angel to this office, nor an earthly prince at the head of a devoted army, but He made the humble silent carpenter to be “master of His house and ruler over all His possessions” (Ps. cv. 21). How great was the dignity of Joseph! It places him above all the other servants of God. Pay him due veneration for the position which he held, and the virtue he exercised in his duties.
III. This marriage was also necessary for us. It constituted the Holy Family, making it complete in all its members; it sanctified the domestic life, and gave us a model that we needed. The bulk of mankind pass the larger and more important part of their existence in the family state. Hitherto there had been no great ideal manifested of that condition. Kings, priests, martyrs, warriors, legislators had their heroic models; but no one had arisen who was great enough to illustrate the lowly virtues of every-day life without a diminution of his own dignity, till the Son of God became a member of the household of Nazareth.
Our Blessed Lady became the model not only of virgins but of matrons. She confirmed and increased the honour in which the Jews had held maternity; and she inaugurated the holy state of virginity, which even the chosen nation had been unable to appreciate. Praise those three holy personages for thus instituting the Christian family. It affords an opportunity for the highest sanctity and the noblest service of God.
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