Where is Joe?

It really never struck me until this past Epiphany that Joe is not mentioned in the story of the Magi’s visit (Matthew 2:1-12). Instead, the Matthew tells us that the Magi found “the Child with Mary His mother.” Where was Joe? Did Matthew forget that he was there? Perhaps he was out working or looking for work. Who knows...

But I think this little detail tells us a little about Joe. He was not a “helicopter parent” nor a “jealous husband”. He trusted Mary to be alone with Jesus, and even more than this, he trusted God to keep them both safe. In other words, Joe knew that God did not require him to be the family guardian when he could not; God does not expect the same of us. He knows our limitations, and He provides for us when we are unable.

Just imagine the surprise of Joe when he returned home to find three unexpected visitors who have brought gold frankincense and myrrh. I imagine that Mary greeted Joe at the door, and the first thing that Joe asks is “What’s happening here?”. To which Mary calmly responds, “Oh, you know, they just wanted to bring some gifts for Jesus.”

Perhaps another detail of this story that tells us a bit about his character is the final verse, “having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.” It seems to me that the Magi stayed the night with Mary, Joe, and Jesus. Jerusalem was less than a day’s walk away from Bethlehem, and so it only makes sense that they stayed the night in Bethlehem. Joe was hospitable and welcomed the strangers to stay the night. In the morning they would be on their way - just not back to Jerusalem.