Page 60 - Reflections on St. Joseph

As Oblates of St. Joseph, we seek out this genuine love in chastity that was at the heart of
the Holy Family, first for our own wholeness and holiness, and then for the holiness and
happiness of the world. We must remain vigilant to the temptation to substitute authentic
intimacy and friendship with cheap imitations that modern society tries to present. Like
Mary and Joseph, our commitment to chastity is an invitation to authentic human
connection and relationship, one that finds its grounding in our family spirit and our
healthy community life.

Faith-filled obedience.

The current worldwide pandemic has created great consternation in the hearts of many of those
that we serve. Anxiety at the uncertainty of the future, frustration at how the world and the
Church may be reacting, and fear that people will suffer greatly. There is much concern
throughout the world in present days, and we as Oblates are not immune to such feelings and
reactions either.

But I do believe that we have a model for confronting such troubling times that should make us
even more capable of peacefully persevering through such challenging times and allowing us to
be examples of tranquility in such moments of trial. Our patron St. Joseph was not shielded from
crisis and turmoil. From Bethlehem to Nazareth, from Egypt to Jerusalem, St. Joseph was faced
with challenge after challenge, and difficulty after difficulty. Yet as we know from scripture, his
response in the face of such difficulty was prompt and faithful obedience to the indications of
Divine Providence. As husband of Mary and earthly father of Jesus, St. Joseph sought to
overcome each trial by listening to the voice of the Lord and by immediately obeying.

Such an attitude can be difficult to embrace when we think we know better. And it becomes even
harder when our hearts are anxious at all that is transpiring around us. But we cannot go wrong
with humble obedience and with a tranquil disposition, even if things are not improving as
quickly as we would prefer. Mary and Joseph show us by their lives that responding to crises
peacefully and meekly is a sure path to growth in the spiritual life.

We give thanks to God for the example of St. Joseph in our lives and in our religious vocation.
Let us pray that we may dispel all fear in our lives, that we may find solace and consolation in
our chaste commitment to the Lord, and that we may remain obedient and at peace, even in
times of great trial.

Some questions for personal and communal reflection:

 What fears am I facing, and how can I respond to them better?
 How can I deepen my trust and reliance on God’s care for me in difficult times?
 How does my commitment to chastity bear fruit in my relationships with others?

 In what ways can I better model the love of the Holy Spouses in my religious life?
 How am I handling the trying times of the world and the Church today?
 How does obedience help me keep my peace when the world’s problems remain?

36 Reflections on st. joseph