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[Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.
Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name Him Jesus,
because He will save His people from their sins.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.] (Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a)

As we continue our Lenten journey we are given the chance to celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph, the husband of Mary.  St. Mathew makes it clear at the beginning of our passage that St. Joseph, though the legal father of Jesus, is not the actual father of Jesus.  St. Mathew demonstrates this by the genealogy which immediately proceeds our passage and by the angel’s words in St. Joseph’s dream.  Nevertheless, St. Joseph is the guardian of Jesus, the Son of God.

Not only was St. Joseph charged with protecting the physical body of Christ, God has also tasked him with protecting by his prayers the spiritual body of Christ, Patron of the Universal Church—us.  St. Paul calls each of us individually part of the body of Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 12:27).  Undoubtedly when the boy Jesus hurt Himself, He’d run to Mary or St. Joseph for comfort and help.  It’s no different for us.  We can ask St. Joseph to pray to his Son for us, for comfort, for help.

Take some time today to ask St. Joseph for prayers.  Prayers for yourself… prayers for the Church… prayers for the world.  He is a loving father of the body of Christ, physical and spiritual.  Ask him to pray to our Heavenly Father for comfort, guidance, help, mercy… during this difficult time.