[Pearls Ep 150: Preparing for Sunday.]
We’re looking at St. Joseph’s message in a dream. On Monday we’ll look more at dreams in particular, but for today, a few thoughts on “dreams” in the broader sense of hopes and aspirations.
Joseph we’re told was a “righteous man” (in some translations a “just man”). Which is to say his thoughts and actions were always conformed to God. It’s an interesting parallel to Mary who was “full of grace.” Her perfection was of a higher order than Joseph’s, since grace is a share in the life of the Trinity – so she loved as the Trinity loves and sacrificed as the Trinity sacrifice. But as a man living under the Old Covenant, Joseph lived it out perfectly.
And for context, more and more people believe that Joseph would have been a young man (not old, as often depicted). As well put by Mother Angelica, Fulton Sheen and others – only a young man could have led his family on a trek to Egypt. And the idea of an “old Joseph” does a disservice to his virtue. Tradition tells us that Joseph remained chaste – not just because he was too old to be romantically interested in Mary. Joseph was almost certainly young and virile. It was a decision of heroic virtue on Joseph’s part to remain chaste.
Let’s reflect on Joseph prior to his marriage to Mary. What would have been his dreams and aspirations? Well, as a young, righteous, Jewish man, he probably dreamt of having a holy family and successfully providing for them. Old Testament scripture (particularly the wisdom literature) is filled with references to the blessings of holy wives and sons and daughters. Certainly that would have been Joseph’s aspiration for his marriage to Mary.
And being a righteous man, Joseph would have been keenly aware of his responsibility to provide for Mary and their future children. And so he would have desired to be successful in his line of work.
How did it all play out? Well, not exactly as Joseph would have expected. In fact, he was so taken aback by Mary’s miraculous conception that he planned to divorce her. But God invited Joseph in on His plan, and Joseph said “yes.” In the end, Joseph ended up being the head of the holiest of all families. And he was perfectly successful in protecting and providing for his family so that Jesus could grow and mature and be prepared to enter into His public ministry when the time came.
Ultimately, Joseph’s deepest desires were answered, even though there were some surprising twists and turns along the way.
And so it is with us. God desires that we share our hopes, dreams and aspirations with Him. Because when we do that, we are being “real” with Him. And then He can do His work in us. And if we let Him, He will take our dreams and mold them fit into His perfect plan.
That is a big part of what Advent is all about. And here we are with one week left. One week to spend time with God in silence, to simplify our life, to offer up small sacrifices, to practice small acts of great love. Imagine what God can do with that. Just ask St. Joseph…
Blessings on your journey with Christ –
Steve and Karen Smith
Interior Life
Postscript: Matthew 1:18-24
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”