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Lenten Reflection - Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
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March 19, 2021The name of Joseph is mentioned five times today. It means “God will add.” God adds through this humble, quiet man that did not see himself worthy or good enough for God’s plan. The gospel states that “… he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.” Joseph, humble man in awe of the mystery of the Incarnation occurring right before his eyes, did not consider himself worthy of the task before him as stepfather of the Messiah and husband of Mary. He thought it better to leave. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux says of this moment, “Joseph’s reason was the same as Peter’s when he said, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord,’ and that of the centurion when he exclaimed, ‘I am not worthy that thou should enter under my roof.’ Joseph looked on himself as a sinner and as unworthy…”. This is humility.
Aquinas mentions his extraordinary humility in the “Catena Aurea” and Saint John Paul II reminds us in “Redemptoris Custos” that “Even though he decided to draw back so as not to interfere in the plan of God, which was coming to pass in Mary, Joseph obeyed the explicit command of the angel, sent by God, and took Mary into his home, while respecting the fact that she belonged exclusively to God.”
Joseph, a man of deep love of God, despite not considering himself good enough, lovingly obeyed God. May we follow his example. During this “year of Saint Joseph,” may God continue to add through those who imitate him by being lovingly close to Christ and Mary. Saint Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church, pray for us. Amen.
