Promises are part of the language of love and, perhaps more importantly, part of the language of hope. We have seen in other reflections that promise was one of the elements that marked the relationship between God and Israel. In our first reading for this Solemnity of St Joseph, we hear of God sending the prophet Nathan to David with a rather detailed promise concerning a very special descendant and heir of the King. The Angel Gabriel repeated some of these words to Mary at the Annunciation.

We read of this promise on this Solemnity of St Joseph to remind us of the part he played in God's design to give great hope to Israel and through Israel to the whole human race. Joseph was the just man who accepted Jesus into his life as Lord and Saviour just as Mary accepted the call to be the Mother of Jesus.

In different ways, through both Mary and Joseph, Jesus belonged to the Chosen People of Israel and could claim descent from David. Jesus was the promised heir, so that in him we would become heir to an even greater Kingdom than David's, namely the Kingdom of God.