The word
righteous today commonly carries with it a negative connotation, because we
often tacitly attach the word “self” to it. The self-righteous person considers himself to
be the measure of what is good and holy. He’s the Pharisee who looks at the penitent
tax collector and thinks he is blessed not to be like him. Jesus tells us that such a man will not be
justified. (Luke 18:9-14)
On this
beautiful Solemnity of St. Joseph, the Church calls us to ponder the powerful
witness of the foster father of Christ and spouse of Mary. He is a man we don’t know by his words but rather by
his actions. However, Scripture does
supply us with one word to describe him…righteous. This is a word that is also used by St. Paul
to describe Abraham (Romans 4:13-22).
One who is
truly righteous understands that only God can judge a person’s soul, even one’s
own soul. Thus, a righteous heart is
also a humble and merciful heart. Even
the complete name of today’s Solemnity underscores this; “The Solemnity of St.
Joseph, husband of Mary”. Joseph appears
to get “top billing”, but does he? When righteous, one also acknowledges the
right order of reality where God is the both the source of all things and our
ultimate goal. Jesus has promised that
those who hunger and thirst for this understanding will be satisfied. (Matthew
5:6) Abraham’s righteousness was satisfied through many sons. Joseph’s was satisfied through one, the Son of
God.
In a couple
of Gospel readings, we see Joseph growing in his ability to trust God. How
difficult it must have been to believe Mary’s story! So, since he didn’t trust her version of the
story about her pregnancy, God sent him an angel in a dream (Matthew 1:16-24).
Now, Joseph
had to trust that his dream wasn’t a product of his own imagination. Wouldn’t it have been more convincing if the
angel had appeared to him in person, the way Mary had been visited by an angel
(Luke 1:26-38)?
And yet,
something about the dream triggered Joseph’s faith. He believed what he heard in his sleep. I suspect, though, that a new doubt flooded
him as soon as he believed the message of the dream. He might have wondered: “Who am I to raise the
Messiah! I can’t do this! I’m not worthy of this responsibility, and I will
make mistakes!”
Maybe the
questions lingered only a second, or maybe he had to get down on his knees and
go deep into prayer before he could feel God’s assurance. Either way, he chose to trust God, which gave
him the freedom to feel assured that God would help him take care of Mary and
the child.
Years later,
when Jesus was twelve years old, Joseph’s trust was again stretched. He lost the child for three days! He had to choose repeatedly, moment by moment,
to trust God no matter how long the boy was missing (Luke 2:41-51). You and I have to trust God the same way. We can either look at the evidence that says
how bad things are — and live in worry — or we can look at God and remember
that he cares with infinite love and is worthy of our trust.
David chose
to trust that God would protect his throne forever (2 Samuel 7:4-16). Paul reminds us that Abraham “hoped against
hope” (which is the meaning of trust) that although he and his wife were well
past their child-bearing years, he would become the father of a great nation as
promised.
And Jesus
had to trust that His death upon the cross — and all of its excruciating pain
and the tortures before it — would lead to the glory of resurrection and the
redemption of the world.
To journey
through the cross to resurrection, to move from pain to glory, trust is
necessary. In each problem you face
today — especially the long-standing ones — stop and think about the choice you
have: You can worry and be afraid or you can trust God. Ask St. Joseph to help you!
Trust God.
Your resurrection glory has already been planned.
St. Joseph,
pray for us.
************************************
It occurs to
me that today is the last of my meditations on The Highs and Lows and Ups and
Downs of the Most Holy Rosary. How
fitting that the fifth and final Glorious mystery has us pondering Jesus’ mother,
as she is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth.
The Glorious
Mysteries
V. The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as
Queen of Heaven and Earth
Brief meditation:
The
Coronation of Mary as the Queen of All Creation is something to celebrate—a
joyous event. Mary shows us that, through the grace of God, all things are
possible. Mary could rest on her
accomplishment. She could rejoice in the
presence of God for the rest of eternity. But she is our mother, and she understands
God’s will for us. He doesn’t want any one of us to be left behind. So, Mary like the perfect mother she is,
accepts her position in heaven humbly, but immediately sets out once again to
serve God in shepherding us to Him. Like
the Visitation, Mary comes to us to help us; to lead us to God through Christ. She won’t rest as Queen of Creation until all
of God’s children are with Him in heaven.
Scriptural
meditations:
1. Who is this that comes forth like the dawn, as beautiful as the moon, as resplendent as the sun? (Song of Solomon 6:10)- Hail Mary…
2. Like the rainbow
appearing in the cloudy sky; like the blossoms on the branches in
springtime. (Sirach 50:8-9)- Hail Mary…
3. I am the mother of fair love, and of fear,
and of knowledge, and of holy hope. (Sirach
24:24)- Hail Mary…
4. In me is all grace of the way and of truth,
in me is all hope of life and of virtue. (Sirach 24:25)- Hail Mary…
5. Come to me, all you that yearn for me, and be
filled with my fruits. (Sirach 24:26)-
Hail Mary…
6. You will remember me as sweeter than honey,
better to have than the honeycomb. (Sirach 24:27)- Hail Mary…
7. So now, children, listen to me; instruction
and wisdom do not reject! (Proverbs
8:32-33)- Hail Mary…
8. Happy are those who keep my ways, watching
daily at my gates. (Proverbs 8:33-34)-
Hail Mary…
9. For he who finds me.....wins favor from the
Lord. (Proverbs 8:35)- Hail Mary…
10. Hail, O Queen of Mercy, protect us from the
enemy, and receive us at the hour of death. (Queenship of the B.V.M., Gradual)-
Glory Be…
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