So who is Joseph?

St Joseph is rarely portrayed in literature or movies except as a backstory to the Nativity story: even though he was the one who kept Mary and the child safe by taking them out of danger (twice) and of course supporting them.

The only thing we know in the Bible was that he was a "just" man. Lots of apocryphal stories about him in the gospels left out of the Bible but popular tales known to medieval Christians and some which we pre Vatican II catholics were familiar with, but left out of the bible because they were obviously charming tales about the child Jesus, but not history. LINK infancy gosple of James LINK2 infancy gospel of thomas

More recently, Anne Rice (of Vampire fame) wrote a series of books based on these writings, and one about the child Jesus became the basis of a movie The Young Messiah.

I disagree with the theology of the books (and movie) but from a human standpoint the characters are believable.

Why do I bring this up? Because usually I hate "biblical" movies,  where the characters seem to have the "thousand mile" stare and flat affect of cult members/schizophrenics, which seems to be the Hollywood idea of what holiness looks like, and the syrupy sweet depiction of the events that make one want to walk out of the film or throw the book across the room in disgust.

And the movie has the only good film depiction that I've ever seen of Joseph: not as a nerd or a doddering old man, but as a responsible and loving father who takes responsibility for his wife and child.

Here is a clip that shows the relationship, (just ignore his hair, which looks fake).


the full movie is here, if you want to watch it LINK

So what brought this up?

Well, writer Brian Sibley (of BBC radio fame) is releasing a book about Joseph, and discusses how he was inspired to write it.

LINK

What sort of man was he, this Joseph? What was it in the character of this humble carpenter from Nazareth that led to his being chosen as foster-father to the Son of God? What was his reaction to the discovery that his fiancé was pregnant and how did he cope with the inevitable shame and embarrassment? And, having endured that dishonour, how did he handle the many mysterious events attending that Nativity with which we are all so universally familiar from the greatest masterpieces of art down to the cards, carols and cribs of our annual Christmastides?

What were Joseph’s feelings observing the inexplicable adoration of shepherds and Magi? And what did he make of those three curious, portentous gifts that the Wise Men from the East laid at the feet of his wife and child? And, very specifically, whatever became of those gifts?

Even as I wrote down these and the other questions that were teeming through my brain, I was surprised to find a series of answers – or, at least, possible answers – bubbling to the surface of my mind, provided by someone who was intimately involved with the events of the first Christmas and who witnessed the following thirty-something years that eventually led to the passion and glory of Easter –– the Archangel Gabriel. Once this unexpected Venetian Christmas gift had been given, all that was left to do was to listen to the angel and write the story down.

One wonders if this too will be made into a movie: And if it is, one hopes it won't be the sentimental stuff one usually has to sit through, but a decent story about human beings willingly cooperating with the deity's plans for their lives.

---------------------

related link: Prancing Pony Podcast has an interview with Mr Sibley LINK