Let us remember that God chose St. Joseph to be the husband of Mary and thus, a fatherly presence to Jesus. Joseph was called to give this Child a name and to make sure that He would grow up normally to adulthood. Joseph encompassed his duties as a father, to nurture his child, to clothe him, to teach him a trade and give him a good model on earth.
Joseph led a life, as I call it, the “Silence of Faith.” His actions and deeds took the place of words. He had a heart that listened, especially to Angels, to the needs of Mary and obedience to God. Joseph taught us all the workings of Contemplative Prayer, where one loving heart talks to another in silence and attentiveness, an intimate conversation in which one knows himself to be loved by God.
As we prepare for two upcoming days for Joseph: March 19, for Joseph the Husband of Mary and May 1st for Joseph the Worker, let us remember Joseph is also the patron saint of the Universal Church, dying, families, fathers, expectant mothers, travelers, immigrants, house sellers and buyers, craftsmen, engineers and working people in general.
Let those who protect, realize that they are not alone in their labor. Please grant in every Family, in every workplace, wherever a Christian works, a Joseph, who represents the gifts of Heavenly Love to everyone.
This is my personal invitation for you to mimic St. Joseph, to welcome the word of God which sprouts from the depths of God’s Love, which will be your fruit of meditation for you to contemplate: “Work not for perishable food, but for food that remains for eternal life” (Jn 6:27).
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