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With the great feast of Christmas only a few days away, and the narrative of Luke’s Gospel, complete with the angels, shepherds, and the Bethlehem manger awaiting us, the church turns for a moment to consider the story and role of St. Joseph.

The passage we hear this week gives us a familiar scenario: Joseph finds out about Mary’s pregnancy, decides to divorce her quietly to keep her out of the public eye and changes his mind when the angel reveals the divine plan at work. It seems simple enough, or at least, as simple as such an extraordinary event can be. The common reading, in which Joseph is hurt by what seems like betrayal on Mary’s part, yet still chooses not to cause her any harm, and then hears with relief that God is the author of the whole matter, is relatable enough. We can understand this Joseph.

But one line of this Gospel suggests that perhaps more is going on than a disappointment for a holy but otherwise normal man. The angel says to him, “Do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.” Why would Joseph be afraid? As the wronged party in the eyes of the public, and fully assured of his rights, what harm could she possibly bring him?

In fact, traditions common among the ancient Christians portray Joseph in something of a different light. They did not see him as a man simply looking forward to married life with a wonderful young woman, now disillusioned. They saw Joseph as a man who had been tasked with guarding and defending Mary who had already consecrated herself entirely to God. Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel suggests this act of consecration; her question, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man,” makes no sense if she was expecting a normal married life with Joseph. What’s more, Mary is a person without either original sin or actual sin, and her consequent incredible goodness could hardly have escaped the notice of any person, much less a man the Scriptures call “just.” It would be hard to portray Joseph as disbelieving Mary when she tells him she is “with child through the Holy Spirit.”

Tradition thus sees Joseph’s fear, his decision to divorce Mary quietly and step away from the situation, as an act of humility and awe. He understands that in Mary’s pregnancy, God himself has stepped into history to act in a totally new way, and he is overwhelmed. In the face of the responsibility not just of watching over Mary, but now of raising this child conceived by God himself, he thinks of his own weakness and unworthiness. He feels unequal to this great and mysterious task, and so plans to step away, saying to God, “Find someone better than me.”

This is why the angel doesn’t say “Do not be angry,” but “Do not be afraid.” When Joseph hears those words, he is reassured, and with new courage takes on the role assigned to him. If God has decided that he, Joseph, will raise this Jesus, so be it. Even if he is unworthy, he trusts that God will provide the grace necessary to do what he commands.

The same God who gave Joseph the grace necessary to live out this high calling is present with us today, and when the demands of the Christian life in our time seem too great, we can recall this story and trust that God will equip us too for our unexpected missions. With St. Joseph, we can hear the angel say, “Do not be afraid,” and live lives of courageous holiness.