HE SAID NOTHING BUT SAID EVERYTHING

Solemnity of St. Joseph, the Husband of Mary
Matthew 1: 16.18-21.24

The Solemnity of St. Joseph, the husband of Mary, is celebrated annually on March 19. This year, however, we celebrate the foster father of Jesus today, March 20, because March 19, yesterday, fell on the Third Sunday of Lent. The Sundays of Lent cannot be superseded by any liturgical feast.

I also wish to mention that today’s solemnity is personally very special for me because I studied for the priesthood at San Jose Seminary, run by the Society of Jesus for the formation of diocesan clergy. When I reflect on the precious of gift of the priesthood entrusted gratuitously to my unworthy self, the lyrics of our song, “Father of Priestly Sons”, keep on ringing in my heart. Please allow me to share it with the world:

“Father of priestly sons, oh noble San Jose!
Great teacher, whose counsel’s wise,
guide us on our way.
Foster our golden dreams,
those dreams inspired by you:
strengthen our youthful hearts,
imparting youth ever new.
May love ever keep our hearts as
fully pledged as when
God called us to your side and called us His men.
Father of priestly sons, we shall be true as then.

“Father of priestly sons, oh noble San Jose!
This charge you have given us, gladly we obey
Christ and His Mother to take into our care:
Christ and His Mother to herald everywhere.
May our poor faltering love
at their warm hearts inflame.
Always to hold God’s cause alone as our aim.
Father of priestly sons, we venerate your name.

“Father of priestly sons, oh noble San Jose!
This day our filial hearts tribute to you pay.
Bless our priestly dreams,
the dreams you kindled when
dawn of our boyish years
you brought to days of men.

O pray that our priestly years,
And life’s evening, too.
Father of priestly sons, keep all our hearts with you.”

Jesus is the Word of God. Joseph is the foster father of Jesus. Joseph is the foster father of the Word of God. No wonder, in the Gospels, Joseph said nothing at all. He said everything when Jesus became his foster Son. Jesus is the Eternal, Incarnated Word of God. Because the Incarnated Word of God were for Joseph to take care of and bring to manhood, what else is there be for him to say anyway? Such a Son says everything.

Joseph, however, could have said something. Instead, Joseph said nothing. Because he said nothing, God was able to say everything. Very often, we need to say nothing so that God may be able to say everything.

Joseph could have said, “No.” Joseph instead said, “Yes.” Because Joseph said, “Yes,” God was able to speak through Jesus. God always needs our ‘yes’ so that Jesus may speak through us.

Joseph could have said, “Thanks but no thanks. Try another man, not me.” Instead Joseph, by cooperating with God’s will, said, “I am not worthy but I trust you.” Because Joseph trusted God, God was able to accomplish what He said. There is never a time when our trust in God is not required for God to accomplish what He promises us.

Joseph could have taken Jesus but not Mary. However, Joseph took Mary, and Jesus as well. When we accept Mary, we accept Jesus, too.

May we follow the example of Joseph who was silent yet said ‘yes’ and trusted God. May we love Mary more and more so that we may love Jesus more and more, too. May we devote our selves to Joseph so that we may love Mary and Jesus better.