Joe in Elyria

A couple days ago, I had the opportunity to stop in the church of St. Jude’s in Elyria, Ohio. I was really struck by the number of images of Joe in the church. I was particularly struck by this statue of the Holy Family:

What strikes me about it is the level of love and comfort that Jesus must have shown to Joe throughout His Childhood. It also shows the intense love that Mary and Joe must have had for each other.

I wondered what was was happening in this scene. Jesus is the only one smiling. I wonder if He said something profound to Joe and Mary that struck them differently.

• Perhaps, Jesus told Joe that he was going to die soon in order to tell all the holy ones waiting for the Savior that He had finally come (Joseph in Hades).
• Perhaps, Jesus went out on a really long walk and just came home after spending a night in prayer with His Heavenly Father, and Mary and Joe were super concerned and Jesus thought it wasn’t a big deal (cf. Luke 6:13).
• Perhaps, this is the scene when Joe informs Jesus and Mary that they are returning back to Israel after being in Egypt, but Joe and Mary are concerned because Herod’s son was ruler in Judea and Jesus is not at all concerned (Matthew 2:19-33).

Whatever the particular scene is that is rendered here, I think what it fundamentally demonstrates is that this truly was a family - a Holy Family.