Joseph, according to the Bible, wasn't biologically involved in the conception and birth of Jesus. So, on the surface, that might stamp him as irrelevant in the birth and life of Jesus. But Joseph's example says a lot. Joseph's unique circumstances, and his largely unacclaimed response to them, gave him a head start in understanding the birth of Jesus as the advent of the Christ. The role he played not only sheltered the birth, but also delivered each member of the holy family—including himself—from a diabolical political regime.
Often, the male ego is seen as a generator of territoriality or pride. But in Joseph's case, the male ego was noticeably absent. At the very moments when high emotional drama might have been the norm for most people, Joseph was found quietly listening—to angels. He was following their advice in ways that moved the birth forward and kept it safe.
When Joseph learned that Mary was expecting a baby, his response was remarkably decent. He had planned to release her from her betrothal, sparing her any scandal. Instead, an angel, or message from God, alerted him in a dream that the child she'd conceived was from the Holy Spirit. With admirable humility, he accepted this holy announcement. Joseph's humble willingness to listen for divinely inspired ideas is worth emulating. The kind of spiritual listening he did is much preferable to a demanding attitude, or irritability over not being the center of attention.
