On the Solemnity of St. Joseph, the Church reminds us of the significant role Joseph
played in the unfolding of salvation history: Foster Father of the Son of God, Spouse of the
Mother of God, Guardian of the Holy Family, Protector and Faithful Servant. All these titles
are so meaningful and teach us who St. Joseph was, but what would it be like, to look at Joseph with the eyes of our Blessed Mother? How would she have seen him, and how much must his presence in her life have meant to her? In reflecting on that question, the passage from Sirach comes to mind “A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter: he that has found one has found a treasure. There is nothing so precious as a faithful friend, and no scales can measure his excellence. A faithful friend is an elixir of life.” (Sir. 6: 14-16) How tender and precious the friendship between Our Lady and St. Joseph must have been.
Going back to the beginning of the relationship between Mary and Joseph, we can
look at the moving account of the Annunciation in the Gospel of Luke. This event is so rich,
so full of beauty and hope, that its final words could almost go unnoticed. “And the angel
departed from her.” (Lk. 1: 38)
It is easy to imagine how our Blessed Mother would have recounted to Saint Luke the events that took place on that day. The visit of the angel certainly was fresh on her mind, even though it had happened many years ago. How often did Mary ponder the words he had spoken to her throughout her life, and how often did she give her same response, her “Fiat” – “Let it be done unto me according to your word.”(Lk.1:35)? But she wanted Saint Luke to know, she wanted me to know, that the angel did not stay with her. “And the angel departed from her.” He did not stay back to help her explain this unexpected pregnancy to her parents or to her betrothed. He did not stay in order to reassure her again every day that a miracle was unfolding within her. Our Lady was invited to make a leap of faith, to live out the “fiat” that she had spoken, but now not in the awe-inspiring presence of the Archangel Gabriel – rather in ordinary life, that seemed just like before.
But even though the angel departed, God did not leave Mary alone. And as a visible reminder of that, He entrusted her and the child in her womb to the care of St. Joseph. In scripture we read, that “Joseph took his wife into his home.” (Mt. 1: 24) Joseph chose her as his bride, not only taking her into his home, but taking her into his heart. He became her companion and friend in the deepest sense of the words. From now on, the Father would speak to Our Lady in a particular way through the mouth of St. Joseph. How attentively she must have listened to Joseph, and with what docility she would have let herself be led by him.
Together with St. Joseph and Our Blessed Lady, I reflect on my own life and how God has given me the gift of deep friendships. How often He has spoken to me through the lips of my companions and friends and how faithfully He has accompanied me through them. It is true, “A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter: he that has found one has found a treasure.”
May Mary and Joseph teach us to listen attentively to God’s presence in the people He has put into our lives, and may we allow the Holy Family to take us into their home, to learn there what true love and friendship means.
-Sr. Fidelis, CFR