Gospel in Art: Joseph, do not fear to take Mary as your wife

The Shadow of Death, by Frederick Stacpoole, after William Holman Hunt, 1878 © Alamyew-1-18-23-2025-2/

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 25 October 2025
Matthew 1:18-23

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to send her away quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.'

All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

'Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and they shall call his name Emmanuel' -

which means, God with us.

Reflection on the mezzotint

Unfortunately, we know very little about Saint Joseph, and yet, what a holy and extraordinary man he must have been. We know he was of the royal line of King David. In today's passage, we see how respectfully Matthew speaks of him. When Joseph discovered that Mary, to whom he was betrothed, was unexpectedly with child, he chose not anger but mercy. "Being a man of honour and unwilling to expose her to shame," he planned to end the engagement quietly, out of respect towards Mary. It was then that an angel appeared to him, explaining joyfully that Mary's child had been conceived by the Holy Spirit. In that moment, we glimpse Joseph's greatness: his understanding, his gentleness, his acceptance of his mission, long before Jesus was born.

One of the many reasons I love Saint Joseph personally is because he was a carpenter. Having once worked as a furniture expert at Sotheby's, specialising in 18th-century French furniture, I have always admired the art of carpentry.The patience, precision, and quiet creativity it requires is truly beautiful. I can easily picture Joseph teaching the young Jesus how to select good timber, how to measure, how to saw, how to fit pieces together with care and purpose. What a profound education that must have been, learning patience, discipline, craftsmanship, and integrity in honest work.

So for today's artwork we see Jesus set in Joseph's workshop. It beautifully captures hidden, domestic holiness. It is a print after William Holman Hunt's The Shadow of Death. Hunt understood that the wood, hammers, and nails of the carpenter's trade would one day become the very instruments of the Cross. The figure of Jesus stands in the centre, stretching his arms after a day's labour... and his shadow, cast upon the wooden tool rack behind him, forms the outline of the Crucifixion. Mary, kneeling beside an open chest, looks up at the shadow in quiet awe and fear. Inside the chest lies a regal crown, hinting at the kingship of the child she bore. Hunt's painting draws together the workshop of Nazareth and the hill of Calvary... a reminder that in the everyday labour of carpentry, God was already preparing the redemption of the world.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-1-18-23-2025-2/