Page 183 - Reflections on St. Joseph

Consider the Christocentric Mystery of the Incarnation:

Our Infinite, Eternal, Almighty God became INCARNATE at this particular moment in human
history. Although Pure Spirit, he took on our human flesh, sharing in our human nature. He
whom the entire universe cannot contain came in the form of a microscopic zygote in Mary’s
womb. “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14).

In order to accomplish this incredible central act of human history, however, God makes himself
dependant on the consent of a human mother, needing the support of her betrothed to act as his
human father.

Consider the Blessed Virgin Mary, Full of Grace:

God’s messenger greets Mary with the astounding words that she is “full of grace,” or fully
favored by God, words that she could not totally fathom, and words that we understand in light
of the developed doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. As is usual with announcements of
birth and vocation in the Bible, these first words of the angel indicate her most important quality
with respect to the mission to be entrusted to her. Her freedom from stain of sin most fittingly
equips her to be mother to the all-holy Son of God. This greeting is followed by the standard
biblical admonition “Do not fear.” Mary is to trust God in her mission of conceiving in her womb
and bearing Jesus, the awaited davidic king.

Yet, Mary searches for more clarity about what she is to do. How is the conception to come about?
She remains a “virgin,” as Luke has already taken care to state. It is at this point that the angel
communicates the most overwhelming news of all: the child is the very Son of God, and is to be
conceived virginally by the Holy Spirit!

In faith, Mary bows humbly and obediently before the power of the Most High and accepts his
Son into her womb. This is the moment that God becomes INCARNATE.

Mary teaches all of us the importance of remaining in the state of grace and of following our
vocation wherever it leads. She teaches us to listen to the Lord in prayer and to accept whatever
challenges are presented. May we too always say a humble “yes” to the Lord as his humble
servants.

Consider Joseph of Nazareth, of the House of David, Betrothed to Mary:

We have all reflected upon the first joyful mystery of the Marian Rosary many times. We
have pondered Luke’s passage of the Annunciation to Mary repeatedly as it occurs in the
Liturgy during Advent and on Marian Feasts. The overwhelming miracle of the Incarnation
by virginal conception is certainly central to the event. Nevertheless, the fact of Mary’s
betrothal to Joseph is not insignificant. Looking at the mystery through the lens of the Holy
Spouses completes and deepens appreciation of the Christocentric mystery. While St. Joseph
is not present at the event or aware of it at the time, he is certainly an integral part of it.

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Reflections on st. joseph