Today, the Liturgy of the Word invites us to consider the wonderful example of Saint Joseph. He was extraordinarily self-sacrificing and tender with his betrothed, Mary.

There is no doubt that they were both excellent people, in love with each other like no other couple. But, at the same time, we must acknowledge that the Most High intended for their spousal love to endure very challenging circumstances.

Saint John Paul II wrote: “Christianity is the wonder of a God who puts himself on the same level as the creature he has made.” In fact, it was He who took the “initiative”: to come into this world, He did not wait for us to earn it. Yet, He proposes His initiative, He does not impose it: He almost—we might say—asks our “permission.” The vocation of Mother of God was proposed to Mary—not imposed upon her! “He who could create all things from nothing would not remake his ruined creation without Mary” (Saint Anselm).

But God doesn't just ask for permission; He also asks for our cooperation with His plans, and for heroic cooperation at that. And so it was in the case of Mary and Joseph. Specifically, the Child Jesus needed parents. Even more than that: He needed the heroism of His parents, who had to make a great effort to defend the life of the "little Redeemer."

What is truly beautiful is that Mary revealed very few details of her birth: such an emblematic event is recounted in just two verses (cf. Lk 2:6-7). In contrast, she was more explicit when speaking of the tenderness her husband Joseph showed her. The fact was that "before they lived together, she was found with child through the holy Spirit" (Mt 1:18), and to avoid the risk of disgracing her, Joseph would have preferred to disappear discreetly and renounce his love (an unfavorable social circumstance for her). Thus, before the law of charity had been proclaimed, Saint Joseph already practiced it: Mary (and the fair treatment of her) was his law.