St. Joseph: From Jesus of Nazareth
Union in Humility
Today is not only the Sixth Sunday of Easter, it is the day when we normally celebrate the Feast Day of Saint Joseph the Worker. Joseph was a man of great spirit. He was a man of great faith. He was unknown - insignificant in the eyes of the world - just a lowly carpenter from a lowly town – a town so lowly that even the Apostle Nathanael would say, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”1 1 But, though of humble origin, Joseph was highly valued in the eyes of God. Of all the men on earth this humble soul was chosen to be the principle caretaker of the Son of God.
Joseph was chosen because he excelled in many virtues, but two are most important and that is humility and a great love of God. In these virtues, fundamental for any disciple, Joseph found union with his Lord. God loved him and made his dwelling with him.
Humility is often misunderstood. C. S. Lewis once said, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”2 Humility is not judging ourselves, or presenting ourselves, as inferior, incapable, or unworthy. No, true humility is found in an entirely different mindset, not focused on ourselves but on others; not seeking to be loved but to love; not seeking to be served but seeking to serve.
Joseph's entire life was a contemplative prayer, but this virtue stemmed from and was rooted in his great love. Like Mary, in the silence of his heart, Joseph's pondered the infinite greatness, perfection, mercy, and love of God. He saw the world, and his place in the world, from a different point of view – from that different attitude, that differnt mindset that C. S. Lewis describes. His intense love of his Lord and God and his humility were the strength of his holiness. As is said in today's gospel, Joseph kept the Lord's Word, and the Father loved him, and made His dwelling with him. Joseph lived in complete union with God.
Today's gospel is from the fourteenth chapter of John. In this chapter Jesus is preparing His disciples for his Passion and later Ascension. The chapter begins with Jesus saying, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.”3 Phillip responds saying, “Master, show us the Father.”4 This begins a long discourse in which Jesus tells the disciples that “whoever has seen Me has seen the Father”5 5, that He and the Father are One.
He says, “In a little while the world will no longer see me … but, “I will not leave you orphans.”6 Addressing the Apostles concern of continuing without Him, Jesus uses the illustration of the vine and the branches to tell the disciples that if they remain in His Word that He will always be with them. And they are to remain in His Word by following what He has taught them and obeying His commandments.
Jesus tells them that they are the branches and He is the Vine. To have true life, here and now, and life eternal, they must abide in His Words, and live in His Spirit. These are essential characteristics of what is means to be a disciple. However, Jesus goes further, reminding the disciples that if they are to abide in His Words and live in His Spirit, one characteristic of discipleship is primary: and that is love – to love as Joseph loved, with all our heart, with all our mind, with all our strength, and with all our soul, and to love one another as Jesus loves us.
St. Paul elaborates on the primacy of this commandment saying, “If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.7
Jesus says, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.”8 The fist step to living in union with God, and having the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, requires being faithful to His commandments. But it is not a faithfulness that is rooted in discipline, duty, or a sense of obligation, it comes in humility, gratitude, and love, because Jesus is our heart.
In a vision, the Blessed Virgin Mary once told Venerable Mother Mary of Agreda, “The whole human race has much undervalued the privileges and prerogatives conceded to my blessed husband, St. Joseph. I assure you that he is one of the greatly favored personages in the Divine Presence … That which my husband asks of the Lord in Heaven is granted upon earth, and on his intercession depend many extraordinary favors for men.”9
Joseph kept the word of the Lord. He lived in union with God. He was firmly grafted to the Vine of His Salvation, and the Holy Spirit was with him. Like his father David before him, Joseph was chosen because Jesus was his heart, and the Lord granted Him the gift of His Divine Presence.
Let us pray: Blessed Lord, take up residence in my heart. Dwell with me and increase my desire to dwell in you. Teach me to listen and understand. Teach me to love others as You love me. Wherever I go, be with me. Whatever I think, say, or do, guide me. Why am I not more aware of Your Presence? Why do I go astray? Grant me the grace to live in Your Love and never let me attempt to walk alone. I believe in You, Lord. Help me to believe more fully. Strengthen my poor faith. Help me to live in complete accord with Your Will, in complete love, and in complete union with You. You are my heart, O Lord. Let me live and share the peace that You alone can give. Form Yourself within me. Form me in Your Spirit. Guide me and never let me stray. Have mercy on me! Jesus, I trust in You!