Betrothed to Joseph (Sabong News)
Author
Manila Bulletin
Date
MARCH 19 2022
Joseph is the “husband” of Mary because they have undergone the erusin
(betrothal) ceremony before Mary was discovered to have a child, and then the nisuin (wedding)
after the angel explained to Joseph the conception of Mary’s child. In the last ceremony, Joseph
“took his wife into his home” (Mt 2:24) and acknowledged Jesus as his very own. Rather than
being “foster” father, Joseph is really the “legal” father of Jesus. In the eyes of the Torah, Jesus
is his heir. Because of Joseph, Jesus is rightfully “son of David” and heir to the divine promise to
David about the Messiah.
Joseph has a major role in the Gospel of Matthew. It is to him that the angel reveals the mystery
of the conception of Jesus. Finding Mary pregnant must have been a shock to him. Being “a righteous
man” or obedient to the Law of Moses, he would have to divorce Mary, but possessing a merciful
heart, he was unwilling to expose her to shame—that is bring her before the elders. Mary would
certainly be punished severely. Joseph was delivered from his “dark night” by the “annunciation.”
When he awoke, he did what the angel told him.
