Jesus’ Foster Father is the Example Most Needed Today
Today is the Feast of the Holy Innocents, a day set aside in the liturgical calendar to honor the baby boys two years of age and younger who died at the hands of King Herod. As you may recall, Herod was visited by the Magi from the East, who had followed the star looking for the newborn king in Bethlehem. Not finding the babe at Herod’s palace, the Magi were instructed to report back after they found him. Herod’s pretense was that he, too, wanted to honor the child, but his motives were much more self-serving. When the Magi did not return to inform him of the child’s whereabouts, Herod ordered the murder of all the infant boys to ensure that no one would be able to usurp his throne. Imagine the wickedness needed to justify killing all those innocent babies just to retain some vestige of earthly power.
While this story seems somewhat old-fashioned and shocking by today’s standards, it is a prophecy for the abuse of babies and children that continues to this day. We like to think of Herod as a monster for his actions, but our present supposed enlightened leaders are no better. From abortion to sex trafficking, to needless childhood victims of wars, to those who would be willing to mutilate and sterilize minors, our world is just as cruel and barbaric as it was when Herod reigned.
St. Joseph, advised by an angel in a dream, fled with the holy family to Egypt until the death of Herod and, in essence, saved the Savior. Who will step up and save our children like St. Joseph protected the baby Jesus and Mary? What happened to all the courageous, righteous men like St. Joseph who defended their families from harm in the past?
Our world labels a man who demonstrates masculine traits ‘toxic.’ If a man tries to explain how to do something, he is ‘mansplaining.’ Men are regularly demeaned in sitcoms as overweight, ignorant, and immature – think Homer Simpson or Peter Griffin from Family Guy. Men typically have minimal parental rights when there is a divorce or when an irrational mother tries to transition a child to the opposite sex. The courts have historically sided with women.
The feminists have so neutered men that they have even rewritten the story of the Magi. Even the Three Kings don’t get a break. You’ve probably heard it as it goes something like this: If the three wise men were women, they would have asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and given practical gifts.
As a side note, the gifts given to Jesus were appropriate and perfectly foretold the story of His life, death, and resurrection. Gold – is the symbol of a king for the King of Kings; Frankincense – is the symbol of the divine for true God and true man; and Myrrh – is the symbol of the kind of death Jesus would endure on the cross.
While this wise women’s comparison is supposed to be a joke of sorts, it encapsulates the idea that men are worthless and that women and children don’t need a strong male influence in their lives. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Research demonstrates that families with an involved father benefit the children as they are two times more likely to go to college, 80% less likely to spend time in jail, and 75% less likely to experience a teen pregnancy.
This is also true of the spiritual life. These statistics are stunning: If only the mother attends church, 2% will become lifelong church attendees, and 60% of these children will leave the church entirely. But if the mother and the father attend, 33% of children will become lifelong churchgoers. These numbers are not stellar by any means, but the fathers’ involvement in religious education and regular church attendance greatly impact families.
Let’s pray that the example of St. Joseph will inspire a new generation of men to guide and protect their families against the modern-day Herod in our world and that a new devotion to St. Joseph will bring about a generation of strong and devoted fathers willing to sacrifice and follow the will of God for the good of their families.
Prayer to St. Joseph for Fathers
St. Joseph, guardian of Jesus and chaste husband of Mary,
you passed your life in loving fulfillment of duty.
You supported the holy family of Nazareth with the work of your hands.
Kindly protect all the fathers who trustingly come to you.
You know their aspirations, their hardships, their hopes.
They look to you because they know you will understand and protect them. You too knew trial, labor and weariness.
But amid the worries of material life your soul was full of deep peace and sang out in true joy through intimacy with God’s Son entrusted to you and with Mary, his tender Mother.
Assure those you protect that they do not labor alone.
Teach them to find Jesus near them and to watch over him faithfully as you have done.