In moments of frustration, my late father-in-law was quick to blurt out one of his familiar exclamations. While someone within earshot might have charged him with violating the Third Commandment (that’s the one about not taking the Lord’s name in vain), he always had a defense ready.
“Jesus, Mary, and the other guy!” was his trademark cry.
In a special way, he shared a bond with “the other guy.” Carol’s dad, Joe, proudly carried the same first name as Mary’s husband and Jesus’ earthly father. While his allegiance to Joseph kept him from invoking his namesake improperly, he was apparently less cautious when it came to Jesus and his mother. Still, I trust that at the gates of heaven, my faithful father-in-law received the forgiveness promised in Christ—for this and every other shortcoming.
But my family’s Joe always felt that “the other guy” didn’t get his due.
In Matthew’s Gospel, which gives Joseph the most attention, he comes across as something of a dreamer. Angels speak to him four times in dreams, guiding him through uncertainty and danger as he plays a supporting role in the greatest story ever told. He is called a righteous man, and through him, Jesus is connected to the royal line of David, fulfilling the promise of the Messiah. Joseph protects his family, even leading them as refugees into Egypt, yet after their return to Nazareth, he quietly fades from the story.
Luke also affirms Joseph’s connection to David and includes him in the familiar scenes of Jesus’ birth and childhood. He is there at the manger, in the temple, and even in that anxious moment when the young Jesus is found in his Father’s house. Still, Joseph never takes center stage.
Mark offers no account of Jesus’ childhood at all, and Joseph is not mentioned. John includes only passing references, identifying Jesus simply as “the son of Joseph.”
And so he remains, in many ways, “the other guy.”
Yet today, March 19, the Church remembers him—Joseph, Guardian of Our Lord—the quiet, faithful protector of God’s incarnate Son and the husband of his blessed mother.
True to form, however, Joseph will soon fade into the background again. The coming Sunday’s readings will carry us forward with dramatic and familiar stories—Ezekiel’s valley of dry bones and the raising of Lazarus—leading us toward Holy Week, where our attention turns to Jesus on the cross and Mary at its foot.
And Joseph? Once again, he is not mentioned.
But perhaps that is exactly the point.
Joseph’s faith was never about recognition. It was about trust, obedience, and quiet devotion. He listened. He acted. He protected. And then, he stepped aside.
So today, we give thanks for Joseph—the righteous one. And yes, Joe… “the other guy.”
Join us for worship on Sunday, March 22 at 9:30 AM.
Blessings,
Pastor Marc
