The Birth of Our Lord

This is my favourite image of the Nativity, with Saint Joseph tenderly holding the baby Jesus. I had a large print of Joseph as an elderly man, which I did not care for and was pleased to give away. Mary would have been about fifteen when she gave birth to Jesus. It makes sense that Joseph was in his twenties when he was espoused to her, both by tradition and by his ability to protect her and the child she was to bear.

It is easy to see Joseph as just a carpenter and forget that he was of the royal house of David. Joseph was of royal lineage, as was Mary. Even though he was a member of a minor branch of the royal family, it would have meant a great deal to him and to his outlook on life in general.

All Israel was in eager anticipation of the coming of the promised Messiah. The Messiah who was to be born of the house of David.

Because of this, Mary, of David's royal line, was married to a man of the same lineage.