In the Lord’s vineyard, some among us are called to preach — to proclaim and explain the Word of God in churches, classrooms, and other public settings. At the same time, all of us are called to preach the Good News with our lives — with every thought, word, and deed. Believe me, it is easier to preach the Gospel than to actually live it. For this reason, we can turn to Saint Joseph for strength, comfort, and inspiration.

In the Gospel of Matthew for the Fourth Sunday of Advent (Mt 1:18-24), we are reminded of the contrast between the Annunciation of Mary and the Annunciation to Saint Joseph. When the Blessed Virgin is visited by an angel and told that God has chosen her to be the mother of his Son, she embraces her new role with words. She says: “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be done with me according to your word (Luke 1:38).” But when Joseph is visited in his dreams, he does not speak. In fact, we never hear him speak.

Pope Francis recently reflected on what we can learn from Saint Joseph’s silence. He says: “The Gospels do not contain a single word uttered by Joseph of Nazareth. Nothing. He never spoke. This does not mean that he was taciturn. There is a deeper reason why the Gospels do not say a word. With his silence, Joseph confirms what Saint Augustine writes: ‘To the extent that the Word — that is, the Word made man — grows in us, our words diminish.’ To the extent that Jesus grows, in our spiritual lives, our words diminish (12-21-21).” Saint Joseph, then, is not just a quiet man. He is a profoundly prayerful person who embraces God’s call to live the Gospel with quiet faith and action.

We should also remember that God tells Saint Joseph to act — to take Mary as his wife; to leave Bethlehem and flee to Egypt; and to return to Israel when it becomes safe. Douglas Hare (1929-2015), a well-respected scripture scholar, affirms that Joseph is called to active discipleship. He writes: “Matthew…by selecting Joseph as his leading actor, stresses the active component in the human response. Three times Joseph is instructed by an angel in a dream, and three times he must do something.” In this way, Saint Joseph is no mere bystander. He is not an extra in the drama of salvation history. Saint Joseph plays an active and pivotal part in the Nativity of the Lord.

In light of Matthew’s Gospel, Pope Francis hopes that we all might cultivate moments of silence so that we can truly listen for God’s voice, hear God’s Word, and then act on it. He says: “Let us not be afraid! It will do us good. The benefit [of silence] to our hearts will also heal our tongues, our words, and above all, our choices (12-21-21).” We can learn from Saint Joseph to listen more faithfully for God’s call; and act on it by more faithfully living the Gospel and sharing God’s love in our families, our parishes, our workplaces, our neighborhoods, and our sick and suffering world.

The Holy Father calls us to pray for this grace: “Saint Joseph, man of silence, who in the Gospel did not utter a single word, teach us to fast from vain words, to rediscover the value of words that edify, encourage, console, and support. Be close to those who suffer from words that hurt, like slander and backbiting, and help us always to match words with deeds. Amen.” Saint Joseph, pray for us — now and always!

Reverend James M. Achadinha, Pastor
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: frjim@ccgronline.com

CCGR Weekly Newsletter (12-18-22)
Bringing Home the Word (12-18-22)
The Kids Bulletin (12-18-22)

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Call to Prayer
The Gift of Saint Joseph

By Pope Francis