“When Joseph awoke, he did as the
angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.” – Matthew
1:24
Sister M.
Madeleva, CSJ writes a revealing statement about St. Joseph: “Quiet, living on
the verge of mystery. He was left with dreams and the work of his hands.” Joseph represents the largest part of Jesus’
earthly existence: his hidden life. Moreover, as foster father, Joseph greatly
shaped Jesus’ hidden life, in a small town, in the backcountry of Galilee, in
quiet, simple, ordinary, and unspectacular life as a carpenter.
Yet,
through this everyday, almost uneventful existence, the invitation to live life
fully unfolds. Trying to live wholly the common, even mundane moments of our
lives takes us into the mystery of God’s dream for our life.It involves openness to
dreaming about our unique roles in the mystery of God’s liberating and transforming
love; it also entails working attentively towards its fulfillment. At times,
following these dreams takes much risk and pain; at other times, it draws out
of us faithfulness in the tedious, humdrum tasks of everyday life. There are
times in my life that I, like Joseph, struggle
to understand, trust, and let go of my own plans. Reflecting upon these
experiences teaches me that faithfulness in the little moments builds trust
that prepares me for the bigger decisions.
Like
Joseph and Jesus, we are called to follow God in hidden, simple, ordinary, and
unspectacular life. Slowly slowly, as we walk in faith and in trust, the path
of God appears beneath our feet.
Lord Jesus, help me to be faithful
and find you in the ordinariness of my life today. St. Joseph, pray for us!
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