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Joseph’s Fiat
During Advent, members of the A Nun’s Life community will be posting reflections on the Jesse Tree and the O Antiphons.
Day 14 :: Joseph written by Marla
In trying to write about Joseph, I realized I know little about him despite his importance in the whole nativity narrative of scripture. I know that superstitious Catholics have long believed that burying a statue of this under-appreciated saint in the back yard is a step in the right direction for anyone trying to sell a home, but aside from that I’m sorry to say I know almost nothing about dear old Saint Joe..
Scripture doesn’t help. Joseph is hardly mentioned at all in the gospels. Mark ignores him completely. A quick search at Gateway Bible online shows a measly eleven references to this brave soul who took on the enormous task of being stepfather to the Savior.
Despite Joseph’s minimalist biography, we can know with certainty that he pleased God. After all, Joseph said yes to God, just like Mary did, just as the prophets did, and just as the apostles did. He agreed to marry a pregnant girl and raise a child that was not his own. That’s a big deal.
But saying yes always is.
My friend Colleen taught the kids in our parish—and me—improvisation every Wednesday for an entire year. According to Colleen, the first rule of improv is to always say yes! If your partner on stage says, “Can you tell me how to get to State Street?” you have to give directions, thereby saying yes to his premise. If you say, “I’ve never heard of State Street” you are saying no to the bit and the scene stalls. In other words, saying yes means opening up to every possibility.
Saint Joseph absolutely opened himself up to any and every possibility. He was asked to serve God and he said yes, and I’ll bet his life was never the same again. And even with a tiny 11 references in scripture, Joseph is not a figure we are ever likely to forget.
In this season of Advent, may we all be more willing to open ourselves up to whatever God requires of us. Even if we have to practice saying yes every day, let’s go for it. Because saying yes to God can only bring amazing goodness (even if it hurts a little).
* * Want to revisit the other symbols of Advent? Click here on Jesse Tree. * *
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{ 2 comments }
That is a wonderful reflection on Saint Joseph, the Father of Christ on earth, which is a huge and wonderful destiny. Indeed, very little reference or interest is paid to this great and high spirit of God’s most important family on earth. This has often occurred to me and so I have paid important recognition and respect to him when I have been praying to the Lord my thanks for his Hosts of Heaven, the Trinity, the Mother of the Universe and the Father of Christ on earth, the great Archangels and their legions. Indeed, he is a very powerful and central high spirit in the Holy Nativity and the bringing up of Christ, his teaching by example and his patience and great wisdom. Thanks be to God for Saint Joseph, Father Saint on Earth, himself manifesting the Lord, as did his wife.
“Saying yes to his premise” is the line that strikes me in your post. Joseph said yes. Mary said yes. And because they both said yes, the scene could develop into its full acts, so that the production continues even today with a cast of disciples too long to list. Thanks for the reminder that the practice of saying yes reaches its best outcome in the long view.