Who among us would feel worthy to be the foster parent of the Son of God?  Joseph certainly was not at the head of the line asking for the job—but God knew.  God handpicked Joseph for this awesome responsibility and we hear through Scripture how Joseph “heard” God’s call.

Listening to the Will of God

….take Mary your wife into your home.  

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.  When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.  Joseph her husband, since he is a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.  Such was his intention when behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.  She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus because he will save his people from their sins”
Matthew 1:18-22

The Flight to Egypt

“Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt,…

When they had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you.  Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and tool the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt.
Matthew 2:13-14

The Return from Egypt

“When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.
Matthew 2:19-21

Joseph’s humble status

The Rejection at Nazareth

He came to his synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?  Is he not the carpenter’s son?”
Matthew 13:54-55

The Last Mention of St. Joseph in Scripture

Lost in the Temple

Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went according to festival custom.  After they had competed its days, as they were returning the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.  Thinking he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and their acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.  After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astonished at his understanding and his answers.  When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me?  Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

Luke 2:41-49