One of St. Joseph’s best traits is his obedience to the Lord without uttering a single word, yet his actions speak louder than any ‘Yeses’ I’ve ever heard. In the four Gospels of the New Testament, Joseph, the husband of Mary and the foster father of Jesus, is not recorded as having spoken. While it is true that he is mentioned in the narratives, you will never hear a direct quotes or recorded speech attributed to him in the Gospels.
Let’s explore each of his affirmations, as they contributed to God’s grand plan for our salvation. The ‘Yeses’ that never been said but primarily depicted through his prudent actions and decisions.
- Matthew 1:18-25—This passage recounts Joseph’s dilemma upon discovering Mary’s pregnancy and his subsequent decision to divorce her quietly. According to Jewish law, adultery was a punishable offense, and the penalty could include stoning to death. It is important to note that this act of divorcing quietly was a compassionate choice by Joseph to protect Mary, as he didn’t want to expose her to the full extent of the law’s consequences for what he initially presumed was adultery. But an angel appears to him in a dream, reassuring him of Mary’s pregnancy through the Holy Spirit and instructing him to proceed with the marriage.
Imagine if Joseph had chosen the former over the latter— the birth of our Lord wouldn’t have been possible, or the Holy Family would have become a Broken Family, and yet despite the pain, Joseph remained prudent and never letting it cloud his wisdom with emotions; instead, obeyed God wholeheartedly and took his part in the grand plan of salvation not by words but through his actions. While the world may conspires to hold us back, but it can’t do a thing without our permission. We don’t need more noise and loud voice, our world is long on noise and short on meaningful connections. There is noise all around us but in silence lies the presence of God, for amidst quietness, divine messages resonate most profoundly. And, much like Joseph, it’s often the unassuming, meek, and silent individuals who will always, if not often, seek a fruitful and meaningful connection with God. Have we ever paused to consider how often pain and resentment clouded our wisdom and choices? Do we seek God’s guidance, praying for the wisdom and prudence to illuminate our decisions and actions? How many of us have said ‘Yes’ but then backed away when faced with the difficulty of the task? It’s often wiser to act without speaking than to make a pact, that may break or forsake for there’s no turning back. Remember that hardship begets wisdom, the trials we endure often offer profound lessons, shaping our understanding of the world and ourselves. And when faced with challenges or adversity, we’re compelled to adapt, learn, grow and gain resilience.
- Matthew 2:13-23—Joseph is warned by an angel in a dream to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus to escape King Herod’s order to kill all male children in Bethlehem. After Herod’s death, Joseph is directed in another dream to return to Israel but settles in Nazareth instead of Bethlehem, fulfilling the prophecy that the Messiah would be called a Nazarene.
Have you ever wondered why Joseph settled in Nazareth? After being instructed in a dream to return from Egypt, Joseph intended to go to Judea. However, fearing Herod’s son Archelaus, who ruled in Judea, Joseph settled in Nazareth, which was in the region of Galilee. This decision fulfilled not only the prophecy but also avoided potential danger in Judea under Archelaus’s rule. This only shows that Joseph is not only knowledgeable and wise but also a virtuous man, and acted accordingly on the knowledge available on him at that time. They say that, “knowledge is power”, but I disagree. Knowledge is not power. Knowledge is only POTENTIAL power. It transforms itself into ACTUAL power the moment you decisively act on it. Most of us know already what we ought to do in our lives, but the real problem is that we don’t do what we know. If knowledge is potential power then wisdom is knowing what to do next, skill is knowing how to do it, and virtue is doing it. The mark of a strong character lies not in doing what is fun or easy to do. The sign of deep moral authority appears in the individual who consistently does what they ought to do rather than just what they feel like doing.
These instances portray Joseph’s vital role in caring for Mary and Jesus, his obedience to the divine messages received through dreams, and his protection of the family, especially in times of danger. If the Blessed Virgin Mary is the handmaid of the Lord, then Saint Joseph is the guardian of the Lord. While Mary is vocal about her faith, Joseph, on the other hand, acts upon his faith. It’s no wonder they make a perfect couple. I wouldn’t be surprised why our Lord chose this beautiful couple to be his parents because I believe that He deserves nothing less. Just as Eve was the missing rib of Adam, Mary complements Joseph in a very similar way.
P.S.
While I always pray to have St. Joseph’s traits, I’m happy to see some progress. Lately, though, I’ve noticed I’m becoming a bit of a sleepyhead.
