A Lenten Meditation on St. Joseph: The Gospels do not present us with a single word from the mouth of St. Joseph, even though he plays a crucial part in the protection of Mary and the childhood of Jesus. His actual silence may give us an insight into his inward silence and his ability to silence all other voices in his life – in order to listen to God’s voice only.
God speaks in many ways, to everybody and always, but we do not always listen because we are attracted by other messages that want to demand our attention, but ultimately lead us astray. God spoke to St. Joseph’s heart, free of useless human worries and preoccupations. It has been said that St. Joseph lived a “constant and conversing union with God.” He embodied St. Paul’s admonition in First Thessalonians 5,17: “Pray without ceasing.” He also embodied the sentiment from Psalm 46,10: “Be still and know that I am God.”
When Lent calls us to be prayerful, we find it a supreme challenge, perhaps because our minds are always racing. Also, fear and anxiety plague us and we are worried and occupied by many things. But we can still learn to be still and know that He is God. We can learn, by practice, to quiet down, look for moments and places that will make “quiet experiences” possible, and even make occasional silence a habit in our lives. We do not have to be anxious, worried, hurried or overly busy all the time, do we?
St. Joseph was declared the patron saint of the Universal Church because he protected the child Jesus with love, promptness, and probably at the cost of his own suffering. Now, through his powerful intercession, he defends the whole Church. May he always protect the unity and the harmony of our families and the family of God.
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Along with St. Joseph, ponder this today: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55,8-9) Let us be careful about imposing our plans on God plans!
St. Joseph abandoned himself to God: from the mysterious maternity of Mary, to the flight into Egypt, to the losing of the Child Jesus in the Temple, to his silent years of life in Nazareth. In all these things, he gave his silent contribution. St. Joseph, pray for us.
