Joseph was just, that is, a faithful observer of the Lord’s law, but not in the style of the Pharisees, attached to the letter of the law. Joseph fulfills the law of the Lord by acting with profound humanity. With Joseph, justice means humanity, as the Book of Wisdom says: “the righteous must be kind” (Wis 12:19). He breaks with the logic of domination and possession. The other person is not first and foremost a sinner, a personified error, or a traitor, but a human being who has received life as a gift and commitment; a person who has the right to make changes and to live. Joseph proves to be truly just.
Silvio José Báez, O.C.D.
Auxiliary Bishop of Managua
Homily, Fourth Sunday of Advent
22 December 2019
After Simone Cantarini (Italian, 1612–1648)
Etching, ca. 1637–1639 or after
Metropolitan Museum of Art (Public Domain)
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