I imagine him full of hope. A marriage, a wife, a family. But his betrothed tells him that she's pregnant. She will bring to this marriage a child that isn't his. There is sorrow, a certain sorrow, a heart-wound. He had promised his whole life to her, had she too not done the same?

He had hoped to father a child, and even now, he could walk away. Settle down with another woman... but no, he is a just man. He cannot leave this young girl to fend for herself and her unborn child. He decides he will support her. They will live as if husband and wife but they will live chastely. He will divorce her in secret to spare her shame and, worst of all, death—because adulterers are stoned.

He has a dream the night he makes his decision. An angel appears to him, and he knows that he could never have imagined something that looked so terrible and yet so beautiful. And the angel tells him, 

"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.”

And just like that, his deep sorrow turns into deep joy.

He is to be the human father of God's promised Messiah! This is an honour he could never had thought possible. It is beyond his wildest dreams. It is a privilege. He is humbled, and uncertain, and deeply, so deeply joyful, he has no words for it.

And when Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

It is the happiest day of his life when Jesus is born.

He is a carpenter by trade, and he builds beautiful things for his family in the way he knows how, with all the love he can.

Like his ancestor David who made music during his shepherd days and sang psalms to the Lord, and looked after his sheep, and one memorable day danced naked before the ark of the covenant out of sheer joy, I like to think that Joseph too was full of good humour. He brought a lot of happiness to Jesus and Mary.

And surely, he was as hospitable as Abraham, his forefather, who offered bread to three strangers who turned out to be angels in disguise. I think Joseph would have opened his home and offered help to strangers in need.

He was a dreamer like Joseph in the old testament, Jacob's son, the one with the wonderful coat and ability to interpret dreams. He must have listened just as hard to God, and been ever attentive to Jesus and Mary.

But mostly, he would have given his best to God because he was a just man, and justice is to give each one his due. And God's due would have been Joseph's best effort.

And that's why St Joseph is one of my favourite saints.