JOSEPH, AN ACCEPTING FATHER | WORD AND SONGS

with Sr. Lines Salazar, fsp

St. Joseph accepted Mary unconditionally, and like Mary, he accepted the Angel’s words with trust and openness. “Today, in our world where psychological, verbal and physical violence towards women is so evident, Joseph appears as the figure of a respectful sensitive man.” (cf Patris Corde)

Though there was a hesitation on Joseph’s part, God took care of it because he was destined to be the protector of Mary and the Child Jesus. If we return to their story, we may say that we are not like them and do not have the same capacities as they do. If we dwell on this thought, it will dissolve the hidden fire within us. St. Joseph set aside his personal ideas in order to accept the course of events that God was unfolding, mysterious as they may seem. He embraced them, took responsibility for them, and made them part of his own history. His history is mingled with Mary’s history. Mary was destined to be with a man of great benevolence. Our story might be different from theirs but all stories are written by God for us to fulfill. Sometimes our story may be extraordinary or not at all, but we can still put up the courage to change the bad to good if we accept the changes. “Unless we are reconciled with our own history, we will be unable to take a single step forward, for we will always remain hostage to our expectations and the disappointments that follow.” (Patris Corde)

Have you noticed that if we prolong our acceptance to the invitation to take courage in any endeavor, it is as if we lose one more opportunity that we then regret? When the angel told Joseph the plans of God for him, immediately “when he woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.” (Mt. 2:24) Joseph did not wait for another day to weigh whether what was told him was true or not. He opened his heart, accepted God’s plan for him, and believed that his life is connected to the life of Mary.

In our own lives, acceptance and welcome can be an expression of the Holy Spirit’s gift of fortitude. Only the Lord can give us the strength needed to accept life as it is, with all its contradictions, frustrations, and disappointments. (Patris Corde)

Joseph accepted Mary and received the infant Jesus in his arms on that blessed night when he was born: “Him whom countless kings and prophets had desired to see, Joseph not only saw but conversed with, and embraced in paternal affection, and kissed. He most diligently reared Him whom the faithful were to receive/as the bread that came down from heaven whereby they might obtain eternal life” (cf. Pope Pius IX and St Joseph).  Joseph accepts and receives us too, as his adopted children. He was there present and he is present until now to us. It is a grace of God when Pope Pius IX entrusted the universal church to the protection of Joseph. And the Church prayed for all the people asking Mary and Joseph’s intercession for protection. We can do our part if we are united in prayer, accepting everyone in our hearts, bringing them in our prayer. We offer prayers because this is what we learned from the Holy Family. The Church, the Bride of Christ, and the people as members are one to face this battle. May Mary, our dear Mother in her humility, impart to us the shining glory of God. And Joseph, an accepting Father, welcomes us all in his care.

Scriptwriter: Sr. Kayla Ventura, fsp

Source: PATRIS CORDE - APOSTOLIC LETTER OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON THE 150th ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROCLAMATION OF SAINT JOSEPH AS PATRON OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH