Page 55 - Reflections on St. Joseph

Mary. Joseph is the one who discovered God's love for humanity and thus welcomed God's
plan of Incarnation, to be the "Emmanuel". It is from this intimate experience of faith that
proceeded his strength to lead a hard life and to face all the challenges to take care of Mary
and Jesus.

Availability and obedience to the Will of God: The worker realizes his full vocation,
when he aims primarily to earn heavenly goods (Mt 6, 25-34), the only and true ultimate
goal. St. Joseph understood this fact after listening to the voice of God through the angel.
Therefore, he handed over his life to a Project that transcended him, with the acceptance
of the command to take Mary with him. Joseph "In this way showed a readiness of will, like
Mary's with regard to what God asked of him through the angel" (RC, 3).

Trust in Divine Providence: He never had too much worry and anxiety of those who have
no faith in that Providence that feeds the sparrows. Therefore, as a righteous man, he
observed faithfully the weekly Sabbath rest prescribed by law to the Jews. He left the
workshop when the duties of religious celebrations imposed it on him, or when special
wishes of God inspired him to undertake pilgrimages. Thus, he respected and maintained
the primacy of God in his life with filial trust in Him.

Justice and honesty: Being a righteous man, he knew that work is law for everyone. He
did not rebel, did not complain about his job, or fatigue. In fact, he worked diligently,
patiently and honestly carrying out his obligations and contracts. There have been many
occasions when St. Joseph felt pain and suffering from the injustices of others. But,
Joseph remained righteous; and his righteousness was not something that simply
derived a from scrupulous observance of the commandments, but it came from an
integral search for the Divine Will.

Humility: St. Joseph loved and respected his work. "The man who is ashamed of his work
cannot have respect for himself" (Bertrand Russell). St. Joseph in his humility paid no
attention to all those reasons that might have seemed good and that could have induced
him not to deal with material things and manual work: being descended from the great
King David, being married to the Mother of God, being the putative Father of the
Incarnate Word, etc ... Humility taught him to reconcile his dignity with the exercise of a
very ordinary, humble and tiring profession.

Spirit of poverty and detachment: St. Joseph did not look for a work to satisfy the greed
for gain or wealth. He did not want to be rich and did not envy the rich. Work has never
been an idol for him. He has always known how to be happy with his life and profession.
As a man of faith he transformed daily fatigue into a great means of exercising virtues.

Hard work: "This is the carpenter’s son, surely?" (Mt 13.55). In the Gospel, St. Joseph is
called a carpenter. This translation expresses very partially the meaning of the Greek
term téktôn. It was said that at the time of Joseph, the carpenter was one who worked on
wood, on iron and on stone, so he was at the same time a carpenter, blacksmith and
bricklayer. So, he did hard and tiring work. "Whatever your work is, put your heart into it
as done for the Lord and not for human beings" (Col 3:23). Saint Joseph, a hardworking and
just man, bears witness to this way of operating.

Reflections on st. joseph 31