(Please read the Scripture passage before reading the homily.)
There were two Josephs in the Bible. Both had dreams, Joseph, one of the twelve patriarchs of Israel, and Joseph, husband of Mary and adopting father of Jesus. Both were outsiders and both received great responsibility, one over Egypt and one over Jesus in his household.
Who would have expected that the young son of Jacob would survive his family’s problems and serve as prime minister over his adopted land? Who would have expected a carpenter to head the family where the Son of God would grow?
Joseph in Egypt built the nation of Israel. Joseph of Nazareth built the household of God’s Son. Joseph of Nazareth worked with wood as a carpenter; Jesus his Son carried wood on his way to Calvary. Joseph of Egypt is connected by name to Joseph of Nazareth. Joseph of Nazareth is connected by trade, family and wood to Jesus, the Son of God and Savior.
Where do we fit in? We are probably not destined to build a nation or head some spectacular household such that people will recall our names centuries later. Nevertheless, we carry on faithfully like the Joseph of Egypt and the Joseph of Nazareth and eventually we will look back and see the marvelous things God has done through us. The greatness of each Joseph and our greatness lies in doing the ordinary things as best we can.
There is a saying that, whenever God chooses someone for a particular work, God gives that person all the talent necessary for the person to complete that task. That is where the greatness of each Joseph lies, in using the resources God had given in the work God had called them to do. This is also where our greatness lies, in our faithfulness in using the talents God has given us for the work to which God has called us.
Scripture tells us not only the past but also the present and into the future.