Have you wondered why God chose this family of Mary and Joseph for His only begotten Son? Let’s take a look at Mary and Joseph. In the New Testament or according to any tradition in the Church, we cannot find any evidence they were affluent. As we all know from the Nativity story, instead, they were probably poor – for they could not afford a place for giving birth to Jesus. Later on during his ministry, the way his town’s people at Nazareth treated Jesus reveals that his family didn’t have high social status – “Is not this the carpenter, the Son of Mary...? And they took offence at him.” There was nothing special about the Holy Family – socially or financially. They were not highly educated or trained for special skills. They were ordinary people from the outlook.
Of course, Mary was conceived without sin. She is the Immaculate Virgin. And, as Matthew’s gospel calls, Joseph was a just and righteous man. But couldn’t God provide for a home of his only begotten Son with an Immaculate Mother from a powerful family and a righteous father having great wealth? Wouldn’t that kind of family environment be more helpful to raise Jesus as a more powerful influencer?
The answer has two sides of the same coin.
First, God chose this ordinary family but these extraordinary parents to show that it is God who really works for salvation. God didn’t need a social status, financial security, human knowledge, or military power to reveal his mercy and to save mankind. All he looked for was humble parents who could entrust themselves to him. Then, God let the Truth proclaim itself before mankind. The disciples of Jesus heard his word and put their hope in him. Jesus showed his divine power by miracles and signs, not by opening his barn or treasury. It was angels who assisted Jesus, not his guards or slaves.
The other side of the same answer is that God chose this ordinary family because it was good enough to raise his Son. An ordinary family was sufficient even to raise God’s Son. This is something we should take a moment and reflect on. Didn’t God have any other options for sending his Son into the world? Probably he did. But he chose an ordinary human family. Why? Family is not only a natural place but also the best place for a human child to be raised. It was not a court or a legal system that protected Jesus. It was not an educational system that taught Jesus. It was the family that protected Jesus from the murdering conspiracy of Herod. It was the family in which Jesus learned virtues and wisdom. As we all experience, the family is where we learn all fundamentals of life. As a true man, Jesus did the same.
The most disturbing sign of our generation is the deconstruction of the family. The state attempts to redefine the family according to its political agenda. Activists try to replace parents in teaching children the fundamentals of life. The economic system forces every parent to work at maximum hours telling them to bring their children to institutions at earlier and earlier ages. Who can defend the family? There is no one but families. No institution including the Church can protect and promote the family unless families take action first. And this call is divine. The Blessed Virgin Mary answered “Fiat”. And St Joseph rose up immediately and did what angels told him. Now it’s our turn to make our family a place of God’s will.
