Beyond Words

In earlier times you had to do something quite memorable for your words to be preserved by history.  The words of great rulers, great philosophers, words of kings and prime ministers, words of reformers and of spiritual leaders…words which led to momentous accomplishments or fractious violence - these words are recorded by history.  How different from the world today when our blogs, tweets and Facebook accounts – in short, our words - can be preserved indefinitely once posted to the Web.  No longer is history contained by overarching events and significant personalities.  The nature of history has changed and with it the place of words.

Enter Joseph, the foster father of Jesus, the Son of God.  Surely, Joseph was given a great charge: raising and protecting and providing for Jesus and his mother Mary.  As such he is a great figure by virtue of the task entrusted to him.  Yet not a single phrase of Scripture brings us his voice – his words. 

In this Joseph stands in marked contrast to those heroes recorded in the Old Testament.  Think of the warriors, priests and prophets whose words are preserved for us.  Some were unlikely, like Moses, who was chosen by God as messenger yet who had a speech impediment.  But Moses words are preserved for us throughout several of the books of the Bible.  It is believed that he himself penned several of these books.  Think of David, the youngest of the sons – a mere shepherd who became king and whose prodigious words are preserved in the sprawling book of the Psalms.  Think of the prophet Elijah who called down fire from heaven and who was taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot.  His words are with us too, in the book of Kings.  Or of Queen Esther, who confronts the king in order to save her people, risking death to speak words, words that are preserved for us in the book that bears her name.  We also have the witness of Daniel, who braved the pit of lions to stay faithful to the promises he made with words to God.  Also there are the seven sons who sacrificed their very lives, one after another, rather than violate one of God’s commands, which were preserved by the words of Moses. 

Back to Saint Joseph.  The Bible does tell us of his involvement in naming the child Jesus - of his courage in taking Mary as his wife – as well as the flight to Egypt.  The Bible also tells us of Joseph’s three-day search alongside Mary for their son, Jesus.  And then the Scriptures fall silent.  And Joseph makes no other appearance.  However, we need not infer from this that Joseph was a mute - and appreciating his life does not mean endorsing a morose quietism.  No doubt he and Jesus had discussion and debate in the workshop of Nazareth.  No doubt there was laughter.  Although in one sense Joseph’s footprint in history is negligent, his impact on the man who would change the course of history was not. 

In our technologically advanced society where words foster immediate connection what can Joseph contribute?  In Joseph’s life, as in our own, it is not words alone that are of enduring value.  What we choose determines our commitment to Christ.  Joseph chose Mary, despite knowing that the child in her womb was not his own.  He stepped forward knowing that he would suffer rejection from others who were aware of the details of Mary’s pregnancy.  He chose to risk his own life to keep Mary and her son safe from Herod’s grasp.  He chose faith and a road filled with troubles over expediency and a life free from turmoil. 

The Church today acknowledges his footprint in salvation history.  We ask his prayers as we continue our journey through Lent and toward the coming feast of Easter.  Joseph, Patron of the Church and of Canada, terror of demons and defender of the Holy Family, intercede for us who have recourse to you.  And in a world filled with words, help us to choose the path of life. 

March 19, Feast of Saint Joseph