"Botched Blessing": Day 23, Lent 2012

Joseph #1 and Joseph #2.

What do the two have in common? They both saw their blessing get botched.

Joseph #1, being a righteous man, felt displeased when his father, Israel, went to bless his younger son and not his firstborn (see Genesis 48:8-49:28).

Joseph #2 (husband to Mary), being a righteous man, felt displeased when the woman to whom he was engaged became pregnant (see Matthew 1:18-25).

To Joseph #1, Israel said this: "Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, because of your father's God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breast and womb. Your father's blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, than the bounty of the age–old hills. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers."

To Joseph #2, the Lord said this: "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Thanks be to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave botched blessings to Joseph and Joseph –– "blessings of the breast and womb" through which Jesus came into the world.