Papa

Today we celebrate Joseph, the Guardian of the Lord, the earthly father of Jesus.

When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus. - Matthew 1:24-25

We don't know that much about Joseph.  He is mentioned only briefly at the beginning of Matthew and in Luke, but not at all in Mark.

But even if none of the Gospel writers had mentioned him directly, we could still get a glimpse of him by the way Jesus talks about our father in heaven.

The word he uses to describe God is closer to Papa or Daddy than Father, and we may assume that some of that understanding of the loving God had came from his relationship with Joseph.

I guess the same is true for us.  We perceive God as a father and naturally draw on the relationship we have or had with our father to give us an idea what God is like.

If our experience with our own dads was good, we have a healthy image of God, but if it was bad, we could have a hard time believing in a loving God.

The challenge we have as Christians is to show the world God's love, and to do that in a way all people can understand.

Actions speak louder than words, so we have stories of Joseph that teach us about love and humility and accepting responsibility.  We have context knowing he was a builder and a man who cared for his family.

These are the images that lead us to a better understanding of God and His love for us as family.

So, for us to share God's love, we must be willing to be loving like God.  Others will experience God through us, and our stories will be the ones they tell.

I believe that is how the love spreads, person to person.  In being the Papa, we show people what Papa is like.

So, go, and be Papa today.

More to come...