It is amazing to think that God the Father entrusted His Most Precious Son to Mary and Joseph. Entrusting humanity when it failed with Adam and Eve. But this is different. Mary and Joseph know about the Fall and all of the destruction it caused. They have also been prepared for this moment. God the Father trusts them. But they still have free will and can ruin God's plan. Still the Father trusts them. And Jesus too. He gave Himself completely to them.

It is completely forgotten how much Jesus gave Himself to Mary and Joseph. Sure, we remember Jesus as the infant in Mary 's arms at Christmas. But, Jesus gave Himself completely to Mary and Joseph. He did not hold anything back. As an infant and later a child, everything that was His was theirs and everything that was theirs was His. A perfect covenant. An exchange of persons. Very much like marriage, only this Family Covenant involved God. And while other families live a covenant with each other indirectly with God, this Family Covenant actually involved God directly.

Jesus gave His Whole Self to Mary and His Whole Self to Joseph. And while that may sometimes seem impossible, we must remember that Jesus gives His Whole Self, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, in Holy Communion to us at every Mass. And while we are called to this covenant properly expressed in Holy Communion, Mary and Joseph received Jesus needing nourishment. The Sacred Heart of Jesus first beat within the womb of Mary and needed her. This Sacred Heart needed Joseph too. The Sacred Heart of Jesus in all its glory needed to develop within the family of Joseph and Mary. Indeed, they had given their hearts to Jesus at the first moments they could, living out the New Covenant within their Family Covenant.

We are called to be like Christ. We are not God, but we are called to follow His example to the extent that we are able. So, are we able to do like Jesus and give ourselves entirely to Mary and Joseph? Yes. Indeed if we are to call Mary our Mother and Joseph our father it would only be fitting to do so. Do we have to fear that we are taking away from Jesus? Of course not. Mary and Joseph give everything that they receive to Jesus, continuing to live the Family Covenant that they lived long ago.

Joseph, we give ourselves to you. Our hopes, our dreams, all that we are and have in order for you to receive us as your children and give us to your Son, Jesus. Amen.