How could St. Joseph be both great and humble?
St. Joseph did not set out in search of glory and renown, yet he was chosen for a more glorious role than he ever could have imagined. When he met Mary he was looking for a wife, not the Mother of God. When the angel came to warn him in a dream, he was simply looking to get some rest, not to hold the fate of the world’s salvation in his hands. God took the initiative; Joseph responded in faith and fortitude because he trusted that God knew what he was doing.

Joseph knew whose he was
To live in humility is to live always in total confidence of God’s love, protection, and guidance and therefore to have no concern for yourself when others insult you—or praise you. Secure in God’s love, you don’t have to base your identity on whether or not others acknowledge you. In the words of St. Teresa of Calcutta, " If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are. If you are blamed you will not be discouraged. If they call you a saint you will not put yourself on a pedestal.”

St. Joseph knew himself as he truly was
In Rejoice: Advent Reflections with Joseph, Fr. Mark Toups reminds us that Joseph did not pretend to be who he was not. In Joseph's heart, there was no need to be anyone other than who he was. There was no hum of anxiety, no comparison, no preoccupation with himself. He knew he was not worthy to be the husband of Mary, the New Ark of the New Covenant. He knew he was unworthy to represent fatherhood on behalf of God the Father. He recognized that no one could be worthy! His decision to walk the path God chose for him was born out of his humble service to a faithful God.