Son of Joseph

Luke 4:21-30:

Jesus began speaking in the synagogue, saying: “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’” And he said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But Jesus passed through the midst of them and went away.

Blog:

When I was young, my Mother (who, with her two Kids under 3 years-old, had been abandoned year previously by her alcoholic, adulterous Husband) remarried my current Father.  My Mother was a paralegal secretary, so we went to a Judge that she knew well for my Father to adopt my Sister and I as “his Kids”, so that we could become members of his Family and Clan.  Because I’ve only ever known my Step-Dad, I’ve only ever seen him as my “true” Father (or as I like to call him, my Saint Joseph).  Over the years, many have teased me that I’m not a part of my Father’s Clan, because I don’t share his “earthly-blood-line”.  But, you see, while most people know that Joseph was the earthly, adoptive Father of Jesus (without a true “blood-line”), many don’t recall that the Messianic Prophecy that the Messiah would come from the line of King David (and, thus, be born in Bethlehem) all comes from St. Joseph’s Family’s lineage – from Joseph’s Clan (not St. Mary’s).  Like the folks that have teased me through the years about my Family lineage, ironically enough, many of the Jews of Jesus’ day just couldn’t get past the earthly part of Jesus being “Joseph’s Son” (especially in Jesus’ hometown) – thus, failing to see that this Man that thousands were coming to see (and who was Miraculously healing folks and raising others from the dead) was the promised Messiah.  Far too many didn’t connect the dots (so to speak) to see that both St. Mary and St. Joseph fulfilled many Messianic Prophesies – too many folks just couldn’t see past themselves.  Isn’t that what we do far too often, too – when we just can’t seem to see past ourselves?  Miracles occur each and every day – in fact, we’re walking Miracles (each and every one of us) and regardless of our “earthly-blood-lines”, we all are born with the Spiritual Royal Blood of Heaven (1 Peter 2:9) if, unlike, Esau, we accept It.  So, let’s be sure to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and to know that once we Receive Jesus in our hearts, we, like Jesus, are also Sons (and Daughters) of St. Joseph (and St. Mary) and God’s Children.  For while as the new Adam (Jesus) and Eve (St. Mary), Jesus and St. Mary were part of God’s Divine Plan (as well as St. Joseph, the Apostles, the Saints) to turn the world upside down, so, too, are all of us part of that same Plan.  God bless you all, Sons and Daughters of Joseph!