Well, well, well. In what many pundits are calling the first upset of Lent Madness 2020, Herman of Alaska dispatched Elizabeth of Hungary yesterday 58% to 42%. This means that the first matchup of the Saintly Sixteen has been finalized as Herman will face Thomas More for a shot at the Elate Eight.
Today, it's back to the Bible as Joseph -- no, not the Israelite patriarch, but the "father" of Jesus -- squares off against Joshua of Promised Land fame. Will Joseph be buried upside down? Or will the walls come a-tumblin' down on Joshua. That's the question of the day as the First Round continues. Go vote!
Joseph
Worldwide, thousands of churches, cathedrals, cities, educational facilities, religious orders, hospitals, products, institutions, streets, regions, even sports teams are named for Joseph. Art, iconology, music, and books are dedicated to him or feature him. He looms large in Christianity and in the story of Jesus. He is an important saint and mentor, and his impact on our world is undeniable.
Nonetheless, the documented details about Joseph are limited. We do not know when Joseph was born, and scholars believe he died sometime after the twelve-year-old Jesus’ visit to the temple but before the baptism of the thirty-year-old Jesus. Joseph’s exact age is undetermined; however, his depictions usually show a kindly middle-aged or older man.
The Gospel of Matthew tells us that Joseph was a descendant of the great King David. Joseph was married to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and lived in Nazareth. He lived his life in strict observance of the Jewish tradition. He was the earthly father to Jesus, teaching him the trade of a carpenter, guiding him in the religious traditions, and caring for him and his mother. As such, Joseph’s contributions to Christianity and to Jesus’ life are unsurpassed.
Joseph teaches us that God will help clear our doubts. Tradition holds that, upon learning that Mary was pregnant, Joseph considers ending his betrothal to her. Showing his strength of character and humility to God, he obeys the word of an angel who orders him to care and keep her.
Following the birth of Jesus, he obeys another angel’s instructions to travel to Egypt, escaping the wrath of the cruel Herod and bringing Jesus out of harm’s way. In time, Joseph returns with his family to Nazareth, settling into the life of a tradesman and observant Jew.
Joseph is the patron saint of fathers, stepfathers, carpenters, craftsmen, engineers, working people, families, immigrants, pilgrims, travelers, and realtors. He is also the patron of numerous countries and cities throughout the world; San Jose is the most common place-name in the world. Pray to Joseph for a happy death, to deter doubt, to halt hesitation—and when buying a house.
Collect for Joseph
O God, who from the family of your servant David raised up Joseph to be the guardian of your incarnate Son and the spouse of his virgin mother: Give us grace to imitate his uprightness of life and his obedience to your commands; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
—Neva Rae Fox
Joshua
The guy who saved Israel from slavery. The one who literally parted the Red Sea to lead the people to safety. The first one in generations who spoke with God. Yup, Moses. That’s who Joshua followed as leader of Israel. It’s like having to take the stage after Beyoncé.
Joshua, son of Nun, was Moses’ right-hand man from the moment they left Egypt. This was no small task. When Moses went up the mountain to receive God’s Commandments? Joshua was there. When Moses would speak to God in the Tabernacle? Joshua was there. Every extraordinary step of the way as Moses led the people, Joshua was right alongside him.
When they first approached the Promised Land, it was Joshua and Caleb alone who advised that the Israelites should proceed forward. And for that, Joshua and Caleb were the only ones from their whole generation to be allowed to enter Canaan—an honor denied to even Moses himself.
When it was time to choose a successor, the choice was easy for Moses. Even his own children couldn’t measure up to the leadership potential of Joshua.
After leaving slavery and wandering in the desert for forty years, Joshua still believed God’s promise. Just as Moses had parted the Red Sea, Joshua parted the Jordan and led the people of Israel into the Promised Land.
The story of what comes next—of Bronze Age warfare, the conquest of nations, the cruelty of war is uncomfortable for us. And yet, in the midst of a very culturally rooted story are some powerful universal messages. We see the power of Joshua’s trust in God. We hear a message of a God who will suspend the very laws of nature—suspending the sun in the sky—for his people. We hear of unexpected people like Rahab being entrusted by God and Joshua with the salvation of the people of God.
Joshua, which means “The Lord saves,” led the journey of an oppressed people living in slavery to those who live in the land promised to them. How important is Joshua to the story? Generations later, God makes a plan to intervene and save the people again, using a child who is given the name Yeshua—a form of the name Joshua. God saves.
Collect for Joshua
Almighty God, you have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses: Grant that we, encouraged by the good example of your servant Joshua, may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at last we may with him attain to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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159 comments on “Joseph vs. Joshua”
My daughter, an adoptive mother, teaches a Sunday school class in which the majority of the children are adopted, and children of color.. They all come from traumatic beginnings. This Christmas they were talking about Joseph, and she was inspired to point out that Jesus was adopted, just like they have been. The kids were so excited. So of course I had to vote for Joseph.
Good for your daughter! What a lovely story!
A difficult decision. In the end, I chose to go all the way back to our Hebrew/Jewish roots.
I voted Joshua here; right now, I needed that bit of insight, that reassurance that I am where I'm supposed to be and doing what I am meant to do, and that yes, in the worst days, God saves.
I was born on March 19th, his feast day, and my daughter attends St. Joes in Philly. Joseph all the way!
No doubt, this was a tough choice today, but in the end I had to stay with Joseph. Why is that, you may ask? Honestly I've always thought Joseph got the short end of the stick in the Bible. Think about the absurdities he was asked to endure. He's betrothed to a 14-year-old virgin who suddenly ends up pregnant and he's supposed to buy the story that she's still a virgin and stick by her. Then he's expected to raise this child, who just happens to be the son of God? Sure. But the real kicker to me is that some point, Joseph just vanishes from the Bible, never to be heard from or spoken of again. Really? I've always felt sorry for him.
Of all the metaphors that Jesus could have used for God, his favorite was "father". I conclude from that that Joseph must have been an amazing father to Jesus. My vote is for Joseph.
Joseph gets my vote because I have an amazing husband who is a loving stepdad to my daughters.
Right now I'm in the middle of rereading Norah Lofts' marvelous novel How Far to Bethlehem?, and my husband of fifty years is getting excellent heart care at a St. Joseph's Hospital. How could I not vote for that man who married the girl whose name I bear?
Nancy, I've read this entire string and your's is the most insightful and thought provoking comment of them all! Thank you!!
I am also voting for Brother Lawrence. Anna’s sentence about finding God “in the boring, the painful, and the moments we wish we could rush through” caught my attention. Between my addiction to my phone and my desire to slow down the rush of my days, I suspect that the “mindfulness” of Brother Lawrence (and our Buddhist friends) is what I need these days. I’m not sure that all makes sense, but I’m hanging my hat on this.