18 December 2022
Coming into our last week of Advent, the Gospel presents St Joseph, who is only found in the nativity narratives. He was a man of faith, humility and integrity. The young woman he was to marry was pregnant with a child that was not his. We can only imagine his turmoil, because the woman he loved and trusted was seemingly unfaithful. Joseph’s own faithfulness and love for Mary were being challenged. When pushed, how many of us would be willing to accept a humiliation that was not ours, like he did? Joseph was unwilling to expose her to “public disgrace” and planned to send her away quietly. Once he made the decision to do this, he rose above his own desires and self interests, showing and putting into action his love for Mary. After he resolved to let Mary go quietly and rose above himself, loving unconditionally, the doors of grace opened for him. He was able to receive his mission and see God’s plan while sleeping. When we are awake, we get distracted by daily events, and when asleep we go into the depths of our unconscious, where our spirit resides.
St Joseph accepted his mission of walking with and supporting Mary, to help bring Jesus our Saviour to birth into this world. He too had been waiting and preparing for the coming of Jesus, and little did he know the role God had for him. St Joseph lived and walked with Mary, while protecting, loving, and nurturing Jesus into the man he became. Jesus was born a baby and had to learn everything as he grew. What is the message for us here today as we come to the end of 2022?
Advent is a time of waiting, as St Joseph waited. Life was not easy for them then and it is still not easy for us now, as life is always laden with challenges. St Joseph welcomed Jesus into his life and built his life around the life of Jesus. Like St Joseph, we need to welcome Jesus into our lives and build our life around his, and in this way, we also bring and give Jesus to the world around us.
Let us ask St Joseph to bring Jesus to birth and nurture his life in our lives, building ours around his. St Joseph has always been a saint I felt close to and one who has always answered my prayer requests, and he will answer yours. St Joseph pray for us.
Sr. Terry (Kateri) Beaudry cps