"The Silence of St. Joseph" Apr 30, 2021

Let us consider together what the biblical texts tell us about St. Joseph. Though there are not many words, they have profound meaning for all of us as we seek to live a life of holiness, no matter what our state in life or vocation. They are of particular importance for men, but certainly apply to all men and women. In the infancy narrative offered to us by the Apostle and Evangelist Matthew, we find a unique focus on Joseph, the Husband of Mary. After tracing the lineage of the Savior from the perspective of Joseph, we are introduced to Joseph's response to God's invitation. 

This was Joseph's Annunciation. Too often we forget that an angel also appeared to Joseph, to prepare him for the significant role He would play in God's saving plan for the whole human race. He was invited to exercise his human freedom, to give his assent to the Lord's invitation – and he did. His manly response to God reminds all men that actions speak louder than words.

From antiquity, Christians have reflected upon Joseph as a model of genuine manly virtue - and for good reason. His response to the angel teaches all men how we are called to respond to God's invitations in our own lives. We use an expression to refer to men who are comfortable in their skin and content with being men. We say of such a man – He is a man's man. Joseph is a true man's man. He was a man of few words; he spoke through his actions, and he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded. Joseph's response was action!

Joseph was a man for others. Though the Scriptures say so little about Joseph, even that absence speaks volumes. Why? Because to Joseph, he was not the one who was important, others were. He loved Mary above himself and his behavior was just as a result of his love. He was prepared to do the right thing when she was found to be with child. He could have chosen otherwise. How refreshing this upright manly behavior is in an age where men often cower in the face of difficulty.

Joseph was a man of faith and courage. Along with loving his betrothed, he loved His God courageously. He had a close, intimate personal relationship with the God of His Fathers. In fact, this just man was, in a sense, the last Patriarch, completing the lineage. Through his response of faith, He would receive the great gift promised for all men and women and hold in His arms the One that His fathers had only longed to see. God's messenger, an angel, visited Joseph in a dream. He was ready to receive. He was disposed not only to the encounter but to the invitation it presented to pour himself out in love and for Love. He heard the message and, without hesitation, did what the Lord commanded! This is, in a real sense, Joseph's Fiat, his Yes, his exercise of human freedom to advance God's eternal plan. How refreshing such manly faith and courage are in an age filled with cowardice and rebellion.

Joseph was a humble man. There was not an ounce of false bravado or machismo in this servant of God. Named after the great Patriarch who was sold into slavery in Egypt; he bore the name with similar humility. As the Old Testament Joseph embraced his lot, rejecting the temptation to bitterness or victimhood and actually came to rule Egypt, forgiving the very brothers who had sold him into slavery; so too this son of the Covenant embraced the One who would establish the New Covenant on the altar of Calvary. In so doing, Joseph is a model to all men who choose to walk the way of the Cross. Joseph emptied himself of self and became filled with the love and life of God. He gave himself fully to God through accepting his unique and specific vocation as a guardian of the Redeemer. The child Jesus, God in the flesh, was given to Joseph. A Carpenter, Joseph taught this child how to work with wood. That was, after all, what he had to give. During these so-called “hidden years," Jesus was with Joseph and Joseph was with Jesus. Joseph uniquely participated in the mystery of God’s plan of redemption through simply being the man he was called to be. How challenging in an age of narcissism and inordinate self-love.

Since the fourteenth century, there has been a specific day set aside in the Roman calendar to honor Joseph. He is viewed as the Patron of the Universal Church, of all husbands and of social justice. He has also been designated as the patron of all workers, this Carpenter who taught the Word Incarnate, the Child Jesus, how to work with wood. This man was the foster father of the Incarnate Word of God, and he loved Jesus with an exemplary love. 

This same Jesus who learned to work with wood from the hands of Joseph would, during his 33rd year save the world, through the wood of the Cross. In an age that has lost its way, given over to the selfish pursuit of illusory pleasure, Joseph should again be lifted up as a model, particularly to men who desire to follow Jesus Christ. 

Over two millennia, the mission of Jesus has continued through His Body on earth, His Church. He has entrusted the work of that mission to all men and women who accept the invitation to empty themselves in order to be filled with the very life and love of God and then be used in His redemptive mission for the world. Through the Font of living water called Baptism, He invites each one of us into His new family, the Body of His Son, the Church. He still gives His message to men who, like Joseph, cultivate ears to hear and then choose to exercise authentic manly virtue and act out of courage. He still invites men to turn the ordinary into extraordinary through cooperation and participation. He is truly looking for a few good men like Joseph who will work in the workshop of the world that He created in order to recreate it anew in His Son. In this age, so desperately in need of men of courage, we need to turn to this Man's Man named Joseph. We need to follow his example by courageously, humbly, and faithfully loving Jesus Christ. We need to learn to give our “Yes” to the God whose love always invites participation. Joseph is our teacher and shows us the way, a true Man's Man, calling all men to follow Jesus. Teaching us that actions speak louder than words.

In 2005, Joseph Ratzinger, spoke some inspiring words concerning the silence of his namesake "His is a silence permeated by contemplation of the mystery of God, in an attitude of total availability to his divine wishes. Let us allow ourselves to be "infected" by the silence of St. Joseph! We have much need of it in a world which is often too noisy, which does not encourage reflection and listening to the voice of God." (Pope Benedict XVI, December 18, 2005) Several years ago, I came across these words concerning the silence of Joseph: “The Silence of Joseph echoes in a world of noise turning a cacophony of self-love into a melody of self-surrender. The silence of Joseph is a seed which bears the fruit of holiness and courage. The silence of Joseph drowns the din of sorrow and silences the wailing of the weak. The silence of Joseph draws the world to a cave in Bethlehem where God is born as man and man is born again. The silence of Joseph draws us to our knees in worship of the Word made flesh in whose presence all words of men lose their meaning. The silence of Joseph directs a symphony of silence which stills the universe in adoration of the One in Whom the New creation has come. Let us join our silence to the Silence of Joseph!

Fr. Robert T. Cooper, Pastor
Divine Mercy Parish and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School