Solemnity of St. Joseph

Trust is defined as firm reliance on the integrity, ability or character of a
person. What does such firm reliance look like? All we need do is to look
around us here, to those next to us, those across from us; assembled here for
this liturgy we are icons of living trust. Graced by God we come because we
trust the redeeming love of the Lord Jesus is celebrated, made present in this
Mass; we are here because we trust the Lord Jesus will be present in a piece of
unleavened bread which we receive and embrace. Even though this occurs
everyday for us, this grace of living trust is momentous.
Today in celebrating the Solemnity of St. Joseph, we call to mind his life, his
call and especially his trust. The Gospel reports the devastating experience of
learning that his betrothed is pregnant and it is not his child she carries. This
account could not possibly express how he felt, the terrible rejection, the
humiliation, the betrayal. He could have had her put to death; that he didn’t
speaks loudly of his character. St Matthew writes,

“...since he was a righteous
man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her privately.”
This humble carpenter, in spite of this most painful disappointment, offered
mercy, compassion, forgiveness.
But God had other plans for Joseph as we know. Encountering an angel in a
dream, Joseph had his own annunciation. The message was clear: “Do not be
afraid to take Mary into your home. For it is by the Holy Spirit that the child
has been conceived.” Joseph obeyed; he trusted in the angel’s word. Not one
word of his is recorded - only his action.
Recounting the scene of the nativity St. Luke gives scant detail but we can
imagine that Mary and Joseph were alone in that manger with Joseph
assisting her as she gave birth. The Word of the Lord came to Joseph in a
dream and now the Word-Made-Flesh was seen. He was the first to see the
child and the first to receive and hold this new born. Could it not be said that
in receiving, in holding Jesus Joseph was confirmed in his obedience, his
trust? In addition, does it not appear that by his gentle, loving action he

acknowledged the child as his own - his Jesus, son by adoption, Son of God by
his nature. Joseph saw, believed and trusted.
In this Holy Eucharist we receive the Lord Jesus in a piece of unleavened bread
and in taking this Sacred Host we, with profound trust, graciously graced by
God, acknowledge Jesus as our Lord, our Savior. It is a simple gesture, this act
of receiving yet momentous no matter how often it happens. In trusting we
are entrusted with the Lord Jesus Himself
May St. Joseph, an exemplar of trust, continue to intercede for us as we
journey into a trust that is consuming as our father Abraham did, as our
forebears in the faith did, as Mary and Joseph did, as we are trying each day
with a desire born of God.