To find God in the now. Today, we celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph. Through Joseph, we learn to be present in the sacred moment, and through the silence, hear the voice of God guiding us forward. For Joseph, life was not as he planned, but the life God has prepared for him.
Please take a moment to imagine the plans Joseph made for his life.
He is starting a life with Mary. Each day thoughts fill his head with what the future holds. The excitement of the upcoming wedding and all the guests they will invite. He is probably working on a table and thinking of the number of children they will raise together. What will we call them? Abraham, Rebecca, Sarah, even David. “Yes, I will be called the father of David.” Each day he is busily preparing their home and his carpentry business; “oh, the things I will build.” All these beautiful plans.
Then one day, it all changed.
He notices that Mary has something on her mind. Then, Mary, his beloved Mary, approaches him and says: “I am with child.” It physically, mentally, and spiritually shakes him to the core. All the plans and dreams are gone, and his world is collapsing around him. Shock, anger, and doubt covers him. “Our future!” He is lost, and all the answers disappear. Alone, Joseph goes to a dark room and cries. In his loneliness and through his tears, God gently rustles and speaks to him. “Do not be afraid, trust me.” Joseph has a choice. Does he listen to God or listen to all the voices who are saying, “don’t listen, don’t trust.”
New plans, a new life, what does he do? Joseph’s response: “Yes, his name will be Jesus.” We must remember that profound eternal impact in the decision to listen and respond. His yes is as important as Mary’s. It does not end here as the rest of Joseph’s life consists of looking, finding God in the now, and saying yes to God. Yes, even if it means changing all his plans.
Remember that the celebration of the birth of his son is interrupted. His family is in danger, a pestilence called Herod wants to take his life and that of his family, this pestilence has taken many lives. Joseph listens and, in the middle of the night, leaves everything and goes into isolation. He takes a perilous journey into the unknown that is filled with all types of hazards and dangers. Joseph must start a new life in a new city. He does not know anyone, nor how he will support or feed his family. The initial anxiety is overwhelming, yet God speaks to him through the silence and assures him all will be well.
Guess what? It does not stop. After a few years in Egypt, his plans change once again. God speaks to him and says, “Joseph, take your family back to Israel.” Seriously God? He listens, trusts, and off they go. All is well with God. The last description of Joseph’s faithfulness is when Jesus is lost in the temple. Journeying back to Nazareth and the most precious thing in his life is perhaps gone forever. Once again, the fear, anxiety, hopelessness. The look on Mary’s face. “All the plans we have made.” He seeks God in the now, he trusts once again for Joseph knows that hope, nor God does not disappoint.
During this time, when all our plans are shattered, when we sit alone, when we are on the verge of tears, let us learn from Joseph. This faithful servant of God always listens. Despite all the plans, fears, and anxieties, he finds God in the now and opens his life to a new way of living. He teaches us how to be a church, he shows us how to listen. Joseph teaches us the trust and finds courage when all our plans are changed. When the world, as we know it is turned upside down, Joseph learns, as we must learn, that God has something beautiful waiting. St. Joseph, may we live like you. May we trust God like you. May our lives hold and care for Christ, like you.