Jesus is the Word--- in the presence of God, with God in the beginning and equal to God. (John 1:1) And because of his aim to save all mankind, he became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14) He did not have a human father or I may say, he is not a fruit of union between a man and woman since, he is God who took his manhood through the Virgin Mary. Yet, he chose an earthly father to help him live in human ways and to guide him as he grow up.
In the picture of the Holy Family, we commonly see our Lord Jesus Christ with the Blessed Virgin Mary at his back with St. Joseph standing behind them. That is what St. Joseph's life is. He wants to be in the background. He wants to stay hidden so that Christ may be glorified. Gospels seldom mention him. And we only know little about him. Gospels never recorded a single word he said.
As we look at it, who among us wanted to become like St. Joseph? Who wants to be in the background? Most of the time, we want to be noticed and we hate to be set aside. We want others to acknowledge us. We don't want to be hidden and unappreciated. But as we reflect on the life of St. Joseph, it is in his humility that made him one of the greatest saints in heaven.
The life of St. Joseph is also the life of submission to God. He fully accepts the will of God revealed through his dreams. In spite of doubts, he believed. He believes in God's revelations although it is difficult for him to understand. Who will believe that the child in Mary's womb is not a fruit of intercourse but of the power of the Holy Spirit? Who will believe in a dream that there is someone threatening to kill an "ordinary" baby of a peasant woman? Joseph, who doesn't have the knowledge of the scribes and Pharisees shows faith and trust in God's words.
St. Joseph is also a model of genuine love. In human logic, he does not think that his fiancee Mary is pregnant through a miracle. It is not difficult to imagine how a young man would react if his girlfriend is pregnant without him recalling any sexual relations with her. Or if he finds out on the night before their wedding that his would-be-wife is pregnant by someone else. But the Gospels never said that he hated Mary. He never hurt her. He never exposed her to public shame. Rather, he wants to separate with her quietly. And while having a discernment, God reveals his plan for him and for mankind.
Let us imagine how a man would treat a child of his wife that would never be his own. Mary was pregnant before him being betrothed to him. Yet, he loves Jesus with the love of a real father for his son. He taught him how to be a skilled man like him and he also taught him genuine piety. Jesus as a man still needs to be taught the ways of life and that is why he grew up in wisdom and stature, pleasing to God and men. (Luke 2:52) And I also think that Jesus who taught his disciples how the Heavenly Father loves them--- that he will not give stones for bread nor a snake if they ask for fish (Luke 11:11), must have his earthly father in mind. Jesus experiences the love of his Heavenly Father through St. Joseph.
St. Joseph is also a model of chastity. After Mary gave birth to Jesus, he never touched Mary. They remained virgins out of their dedication to God. Their relationship as husband and wife teaches us that sexuality is a divine gift that we must use BOTH for procreation and for unitive purposes. Their love is great that is why there is no need to limit it through sexual intimacy. And since their mission is to take care of the Son of God, they lived chaste lives for this purpose. (Protestants may argue that Virgin Mary and St. Joseph must have children "based" on the scriptures. However, the brothers and sisters mentioned is due to the lack of the term relatives or cousins in Hebrew language. And the doctrine of Mary's Perpetual Virginity is based on the Apostolic tradition.)
St. Joseph is widely known as the patron of workers since he works as a carpenter in Nazareth. He is a skilled craftsman and in their time, they belong to the middle class of the society. He is a model of how we must work--- we must work diligently, professionally and out of love.
Tradition indicates that he died before Jesus began his ministry. Because, unlike Mary, Gospels make no mention of him after Jesus began his public mission. On the cross, Jesus entrusts Mary to John and after he died, a disciple named Joseph of Arimathea took his body. That means if Joseph, his earthly father is still alive, he will be the one who will take care of his dead body according to a Jewish custom. And since he died in the presence of Jesus and Mary, he is also invoked as the patron for a happy death.
He took care of Jesus even before Mary gave birth until Jesus grew up, so he is also the protector of the young. He was the one who look for the place for Mary to give birth, the man who took Mary and the baby into Egypt to escape the murder ordered by Herod and he was the one who look for Jesus when he was lost in the temple. So, I invite my fellow young people to have a devotion to St. Joseph. As we live in this critical period of our growth--- being exposed to harmful influences of the mass media, false ideologies and doctrines, terrible conflicts and peer pressures, violence and crimes--- let us invoke his help to shield us from harm and help us grow in wisdom and maturity just as his son, Jesus Christ wants us to be.
I am his devotee. After my father died, I prayed to him that he will guard and guide me like my father. And now, I can say that I am free from harm, I am stronger amidst my problems and I feel closer to God than before. I credit it through my devotion to him. I can also say that there is no petition I allowed to pass in his intercession was left unanswered.
Oh, St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God. I place in you all my interests and desires. Oh, St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.
Oh, St. Joseph, I never weary of contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls - Pray for me.
No comments:
Post a Comment