Joseph really loved Mary. And she loved Joseph, and together they changed the world. It's true that their love never bore the fruit of a physical child, of course, it was the Love of God and Mary that forged to bring the baby Jesus into the world. However, their love bore and continues to bear abundant fruit - as all chaste love, within or without the context of marriage. We have a stellar example of pure love, and not one that is a merely idealistic view of what marriage could be... it is a realistic presentation of what human to human love can be.
That little cave in Bethlehem was glowing, exploding with love, warming the air, and resting in the hearts of all who gazed upon it. Both the heart of Mary and the heart of Joseph extended and met eachother in the heart of the baby. In that little life, both found their identity, their mission, and eachother. At the same time the Sacred Heart of Jesus burst forth in grace into the hearts of both Joseph and Mary, uniting forever in a bond of love this little domestic Church. As always it was with, in, and through Christ that Joseph and Mary loved, but such deep intimacy with Jesus meant that their love for one another must have been something phenomenal.
They were human. Perhaps the beauty of Mary took Joseph's breath away, and perhaps the gentle strength of Joseph melted Mary's heart. These are good things, and so why not? The simple difference, and therefore the challenge to us, is that it did not stop there. Creature led them immediately to Creator, so that it was really and with awareness their own Son whom they saw and loved. If a father can look at a baby and love his wife all the more, surely good St. Joseph could look at Mary and love the Creator all the more... and at his Creator Son and love his wife with a pure and tranquil passion.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph... I love you save souls!
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