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”
Having recently read (and gifted for Xmas) the book Joseph" and the Three Gifts," I'm inspired to vote for Joseph, rather than the OT hero that St Joe & St Mary named their son after.
In case anyone is interested:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0232534160/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Thank you for the book-plug!!
This was the hardest so far for me. Joshua has that great song which is thought to have been sung by enslaved people dreaming of the wall coming down and allowing them freedom. But he was also a warrior fighting many battles. So this pacifist is going with Joseph.
Crap, I was hoping the 4 Elizabeths would make it to the Final. Oh well, Alaska is lovely this time of the year.
When I was a little girl I thought St. Joseph's aspirin were for Catholics only.
(Baptist got Bayer) & for Rev Sonny's partner, Joseph gets my vote today. (Welcome 2 both)
Joseph was a good man but does not come close to the major role and impact of Joshua. Just think of the name.
Have always had a soft spot for Joseph, so had to go for him, but David Hansen’s excellent write up on Joshua made it a tougher choice than I was expecting.
Joseph for the Golden Halo!
As a stepmother...I am on team Joseph!
Joshua! His miracle is one of the most difficult to produce. He got a person in a leadership position to recognize merit over nepotism.
Toughest decision so far. I voted for Joseph, as Joshua was mostly 2nd in command. Neither Pence or Biden get full credit/blame(?) for Donald/Barack. O.
I looked up the question whether OT patriarchs are considered saints. A Roman Catholic website says that at least Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (whose spiritual descendants all Christians are, according to the apostle Paul) are venerated as saints in the RC calendar. https://catholicexchange.com/saints-abraham-isaac-and-jacob
Wikipedia says Joshua is venerated as a saint in Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, with Sept 1st feast day, but "Catholic Online" does not list Joshua's name in its list of saints with a Sept 1 feast day, although they do refer to him as "St Joshua." See https://www.catholic.org/saints/f_day/sep.php (re the feast day) and https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=361 (narrative about St Joshua). Personally, I gotta rely on our SEC's determination that Joshua is a saint who qualifies for Lent Madness! Some of y'all are such skeptics.
I didn't know anyone considered Joshua a saint, even though he was an important Israelite figure and Jesus' ancient namesake. Jospeh is a wonderful example of how to act in response to God's promptings, even in difficult situations. No wonder he's been chosen as patron saint by so many people and professions! I choose Joseph--no contest!
Joseph ignites the imagination like no other Bible personality. The few details we are provided point to a man of character and magnanimity and yet his story simply fades.... Then we imagine what Joseph the man must have been made of - to have been given the nuts and bolts task of raising lil'God Incarnate!
Joshua is a great fella and I am grateful for his contribution to the Faith, but Joseph has my vote!
I was torn. Joshua's story is very moving but I don't believe that Joseph gets enough recognition. So, I voted for Joseph.
Joseph reminds me of my grandfather, who after losing the family farm to bankruptcy and the tragic death of his father paid his creditors back in full and owned his own construction company. He and my grandma, who finished her teaching degree after the farm was lost, made it through losing my eldest uncle at a young age and raising my father and other uncle (no small feat knowing both of them). I know him as a carpenter, and two wooden angels he made me sit in my home altar. Given recent self discovery, I will very likely be adopting one day if I decided to have children. And coming from an Anabaptist peace church background, Joshua's conquest are not my favorite part of the Bible though I appreciate Origin's reinterpretation of them as a metaphor for the later Joshua (Jesus)'s cleansing of our hearts from sin.
I'm surprised that no one yet has mentioned that Joshua slaughtered the men, women, and children of Jericho and several other hill towns, and then attributed it to God's orders. Even if Joseph weren't my chosen confirmation name, I would have picked this little-sung, gracious, kindly and fatherly man over the murderous bully.
Bingo, Bill Bosies! Amazing, isn't it, how often human desires and failings, when acted upon, are attributed to the will of God?
Yeah, "[t]he story of what comes next" is the main reason I try to avoid reading the historical books, and if Joshua is complicit in it, he's not my man. If I get into it, I'll be accused of being anti-Semitic, so let's drop it. Joseph may be short on documentation, but even quasi-mythically he comes across as pretty admirable. Faced a tough situation with grace. ("Uh, how did you say Mary got pregnant? . . . Oh, really?" "Well, an angel told me to go ahead and marry her." "Oh, this gets better and better.")
How about "neither of them," and then I could vote for the one I didn't vote for yesterday? Most days, I want to vote for both anyway. Not today, though.
Choose this day whom you will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Those words of Joshua gave him my vote
My Son's name is Joshua Joseph. Prominently displayed in his house is "As for me and my house, we shall follow the Lord!" Joseph needed an angel to guide him. Joshua had faith and Moses' example.
Voting for Joshua, but could just as easily chosen Joseph.
As sure as God chose Mary to be the mother of our Lord, He chose Joseph to be His earthly father. For that reason alone, I chose Joseph.
Bea
As an oblate in the Community of St. Joseph, I am casting my vote for that good and kind man. Also as a thank you to my good and kind husband Kirk who became a wonderful stepfather and step-grandfather!
This one was a very easy choice for me. I voted for Joseph because:-
a) Joseph is the patron saint of Canada, my home and adopted land;
b) I am keenly aware of the importance of a loving, caring, morally strong male in the life of a child (yesterday was the 46th anniversary of the death of my own dearly loved father, who supported his children with love and care and taught us the importance of loyalty and faith);
c) For a man of his time, Joseph was unique. His treatment of Mary proves that, and his utter obedience to God is an inspiration.
For loving and faithful fathers everywhere - be they biological or step - I choose Joseph.
Thank you Peg S. for the Bean nativity scene!
I was tempted to vote for Joshua (My son's name). But being a Joseph, I couldn't. I suppose that I am not following Joseph's example of fatherhood.
I was teaching our Senior High School Sunday school class years ago. I had a "brilliant" idea: let's explore what Jesus was like as a teenager. I was still relatively new to our faith (having grown up an atheistic religious humanist in the Ethical Culture movement) and thus, only after convincing my co-teachers it was a good idea, suddenly realized that the Bible contains only story about Jesus as a teenager: him teaching in the temple (Luke 2:39-52). So I had to improvise and went to the "Infancy Gospel of Thomas" (http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/infancythomas-a-roberts.html). My favorite story was when Joseph made a mistake on a chair for a rich man and Jesus fixed it!
Hands down Joseph - let's hear it for the man who used his privilege, self-emptying for his family and all humankind through prayerful discernment. His story is not well know and is not his own - he took a backseat to his wife supporting the matriarchy and his beloved child.
St. Joseph's feast day is March 19th - he gets my vote!
Joseph was a decent man. He has my respect.
This was an easy one for me. For eight years, I was a chaplain at a St. Joseph's Hospital which was sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph.
How hard was it to find that your bride-to-be was pregnant...not by you? Have to go Joseph!