Excerpt from The Book of Joseph
... one day with the Lord is as a thousand years,
and a thousand years is as one day (2 Peter 8 ESV).
and a thousand years is as one day (2 Peter 8 ESV).
For centuries, St. Joseph has remained hidden in the background of the
greater picture, only periodically emerging when he was needed. But
everything is done in God’s time and ultimately His Divine Will is
accomplished exactly when He sees fit.
One could say that the first
millennium was reserved for the sole exploration of who Jesus Christ was
and continues to be for His followers. It was a time for discernment
and meditation on the Word of God, Who came to save humanity from sin so
that eternal life may be given. The Church was given insights into the
life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ to understand God’s plan
for mankind and the realization of the person of God in Him, as the
second person of the Most Holy Trinity, defined as truth. Jesus is the
New Adam who came to fulfill what was written in the books of the
Prophets and to lead His people into new life. He gave the Church the
gift of the Holy Spirit to continue His saving work on earth, to sustain
His Mystical Body, the Church.
For as by the disobedience of one
man, many were made sinners; so also by the obedience of one, many
shall be made just
(Romans 5:19 DRV).
The next millennium would
be focused on knowing Christ more intimately through those closest to
Him. Who better to show the Church how to love Jesus than His own
mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary? These years were given to teach how to
emulate her, and to be led by her example of humility, in true love for
Christ. She is not a stumbling block on the way to Christ — she leads
straight to Him. Our Lady guides the faithful to her dearly beloved Son,
who is always ready to receive sinners, especially from His mother’s
hands. Let it be known that Jesus is the only mediator between God the
Father and man. Since Jesus is the only one begotten of the Father as
both God and man, Mary’s role is to draw His people to closer to union
with Him, for she is His greatest disciple. Her intercessory role echoes
that of Queen Esther who pleaded before the king for her people in the
Old Testament. In the Gospel of St. Luke, someone from the crowd praises
Mary for giving birth to Jesus, but Jesus says instead that she is
blessed because she has heard the Word of God and has held true to it.
Jesus says this to show that anyone among them may be called “blessed,”
but only in holding steadfast to the Word of God as she does.
“Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts that nursed You!”
But (Jesus said) “Blessed rather are those who hear the Word of God and
obey it (Luke 11:27-28 NRSV).”
The current millennium seems to be
open to St. Joseph, the Guardian of the Redeemer, who up until recently
was hidden in a way. The faithful are discovering his role not only
within the pious walls of the Church, but also within the story of
Salvation! Why is this important? Why does one need Joseph? Why should
the faithful honor him? Because Jesus does.
Joseph has remained
hidden up until now because now more than ever a human father is needed
to teach mankind how to live. A human father is needed to show what life
really is and how to respect it. It is in this millennium that the
ethics of life are under attack more than ever. Abortion is rampant and
is seen by many as an acceptable alternative to taking responsibility
for one’s actions in creating a life. If by Divine Providence God hadn’t
willed the safety and protection of Jesus, by the person of Joseph,
then Jesus would have died as an infant. In current times, children are
being murdered not only right after they are brought into this world, as
it happened in Herod’s day, but now even before they are born! Who
protected the unborn child within Mary’s womb? Joseph, by the grace of
God. Who made sacrifices for his family and put their needs above his
own? Joseph. Now more than ever, the “just man” is needed to lead by
example, how to live in the truth. These excerpts from the Proverbs of
Solomon describe the just man, which well represent St. Joseph:
The blessing of the Lord is upon the head of the just … He
that walketh sincerely, walketh confidently … The work of
the just is unto life … The expectation of the just is joy … The
strength of the upright is the way of the Lord … Where pride
is, there also shall be reproach: but where humility is, there
also is wisdom. The simplicity of the just shall guide them.
The justice of the upright shall make his way prosperous …
The just is delivered out of distress … The fruit of the just
man is a tree of life: and he that gaineth souls is wise
that walketh sincerely, walketh confidently … The work of
the just is unto life … The expectation of the just is joy … The
strength of the upright is the way of the Lord … Where pride
is, there also shall be reproach: but where humility is, there
also is wisdom. The simplicity of the just shall guide them.
The justice of the upright shall make his way prosperous …
The just is delivered out of distress … The fruit of the just
man is a tree of life: and he that gaineth souls is wise
(Proverbs 10, 11 DRV).
