5th Week of Lent - Tuesday B – Solemnity of Saint Joseph

As we continue Lent and focus our attention more and more on Jesus' impending passion, we turn our gaze to the Saviour's love. And while Jesus was carrying his cross, in complete agony, would it be too much of a stretch to imagine, that in his heart he carried the spirit of his loving putative father on earth, who loved and cherished him through his entire life? Would it be impossible for Jesus, at that moment of his journey, excruciating in his human nature, to think of the earthly father who embraced him, laughed with him, ate with him, taught him how to pray, taught him how to love, how to treat others with dignity and respect, to conceal rather expose their shame? Joseph's love must have given Jesus the extra drive, as did the presence of the Blessed Mother on the road to Calvary to reach his goal, to utter the words, "It is accomplished" as he breathed his last and commended his soul to the Eternal Father from whom he came. 

Saint Joseph has many lessons to teach us all, and especially we who are religious, and even specifically as Franciscans. We know that Francis had a special love for the Incarnation and anything that had to do with the fact that Jesus assumed a human nature. The infancy narratives are of particular importance therefore to Francis, and within those narratives as we know St Joseph had a prominent role. Even in the writings of Franciscan saints therefore we have a number of works focusing their attention on St Joseph. Perhaps the most prominent of these saints, are Bonaventure and Bernardine.

Saint Bonaventure (1217-1274), the Seraphic Doctor, in his Commentary on the Gospel of Saint Luke, and in a number of his Sermons speaks about Saint Joseph. When commenting on the infancy narratives found in the first two chapters of Luke,  he points out how the latter made it a point to describe Joseph as a "righteous man” and that this lent credence to the purity of Mary and the virginal birth through which Jesus was born. In fulfilment of the prophecies, Bonaventure points out that Joseph was the descendant of Jacob, which is also affirmed in the genealogy of Christ given by Saint Matthew. He is part of the fulfilment of the promise of salvation given to David by God, and that the Messiah would be born of his descendance.

The greatest love in life for St Joseph, descendant of David, was Christ. His second greatest was his spotless Spouse, the Virgin Mary. Everything he did, was out of love for Christ. He was able to apply all his energy to his vocation as a Father and a husband. Therefore, he teaches us an important lesson about keeping our priorities straight. We need to know and commit to what takes precedence in our hearts among our many loves and likes and the first place on the throne of our hearts, always belongs to God. 

Saint Joseph is the most silent of all the saints we have in Scripture. Perhaps this silence was borne of the greatness of the mystery which he was called to tend and protect. In today’s gospel, it is our Lady who spoke to the Lord after finding him in the temple, and though Joseph was horrified at the absence of Jesus, he remained silent in his loving concern. Our love and concern for each other does not always have to involve long explanations and descriptions and so many words, because our love has many ways of expressing itself. Jesus could read on the face and emotions of Joseph a pure love like no other. 

It seems that God treasured the loving silence of Joseph then, as he does now. For 1900 years he was not even included in the canon of the Mass. Joseph is therefore, the contemplative one, the one who prays and the one who in turn, treasures God’s ways and knows how to remain calm and at peace in the Almighty presence of the Creator. He must have marvelled at the mere origin of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. Where we'd be confounded asking a million questions about it, Saint Joseph just remained silent and protective.

Joseph is a protector, because no one leaves a treasure unguarded. He protected Jesus. How about us? We too are called to protect him. How do we protect Jesus? By protecting the truth that he revealed to us, especially about himself. When we can defend someone’s dignity, and not let people conjure up lies about someone's identity and deeds, we are protecting that person like a witness in court can present testimony that will save the reputation of the person on trial. Our Lord too is counting on us to protect the truth of Who he is. It matters to him.

Saint Joseph is also an example for us on how a spiritual leader needs to himself be led and we notice he was always led by the right people. He was led by the angels that are in heaven, and kings that are on earth, and notice both of these groups were those who were sent by God. There’s bad angels and bad kings as well that lacked the humility to be leaders. Some of us want to be leaders but we’re not ready yet, because we’re too proud. God will teach us. Joseph was humble. He listened to advice. He didn’t think he knew it all even if the fountain of all wisdom, the source of all knowledge was laying there in his arms night and day. Such power, yet such humility. Thus is the Terror of Demons, the Glory of the House of David, the King in the Heart of Jesus.. King, Silent, Humble Saint Joseph. Saint Joseph teaches us what true masculinity is in being a protector, pure and holy, of that which is sacred in others. A real man treats women with dignity. Never a lustful glance, never a disrespectful tone of voice, never a man who takes the sacred for granted. "We need to restore this image of masculinity in our culture.The Times we live in require his protection. We ought to place ourselves under his holy cloak by consecrating ourselves to him as we have to Our Lady. We ought to consecrate ourselves placing ourselves under his holy cloak." (1)

We should therefore cultivate a deeper and more genuine devotion to Saint Joseph. St Teresa of Avila says, “Knowing by experience St. Joseph’s astonishing influence with God, I would wish to persuade everyone to honour him with particular devotion. I have always seen those who honoured him in a special manner make progress in virtue, for this heavenly protector favours in a striking manner the spiritual advancement of souls who commend themselves to him.”