St. Joseph - A model for true Christian manhood

Strength

While Mary is kneeling beside her new born child and the baby Jesus is laying in the manger, St. Joseph is standing next to them. He is there to protect them, to love them, to serve them. He is not resting. He is not distracted by his own thoughts or priorities. He is focused on Jesus and Mary. He is focused on who he is called to be - the husband of Mary and the foster father of Jesus. He is there - present, attentive and ready to serve them in whatever they need.

He is holding a light for them. He brings light into the dark night for his wife and child. He's holding it out for them. The light illuminates Jesus whom he is focused on and allows Mary to see her child to care for Him, love Him and serve Him.

Devotion

His posture shows his devotion to Jesus and to his wife. His focus is on them and not himself. The expression on his face is one of attentiveness. You can almost see his desire to anticipate their needs and do whatever he can to love and serve them. There is a gentleness in his expression. A quiet, strength.

A Silent, Humble Servant

Perhaps one of the most interesting things about St. Joseph in Scripture is that none of his words are ever recorded. We never directly hear his voice. We only know that he received messages from the angel when they needed to flee to Egypt to keep Jesus safe and when it was safe to return to Israel. Even though God the Father chose him to be the earthly father of Jesus, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, we never hear him speak one word in Scripture.

This tells us a lot about what kind of man St. Joseph was and how he lived out his vocation. He did not need to have his voice heard over others. He loved and taught by his selfless example of service. His silence required strength. He did not have to insist on his own way but rather followed the guidance of the Lord and put his wife and son before his own needs and desires.

And while we don't hear any of St. Joseph's words, we do see him listening to God. The fact that he heard God speaking to him show two things: first, he was silent enough to hear God speak to him; and second, he listened to the voice of God. He must have had a deep prayer life, a real relationship with God, in order to be hear His voice. And when God spoke to him, Joseph listened and obeyed- even when he didn't fully understand.

What does this mean for us?

How can we use the example of St. Joseph to help us be better Catholic Christian men, fathers and husbands in the modem world?

1. Silence. In this new year, we can allow more silence in our lives. Use that time to allow God to speak to us. Whether it's news, sports, music, social media or whatever we enjoy listening to or watching or doing. Give a little of that time back to God by disconnecting and turning our minds and hearts to Him. He will respond.

2. Prayer. To be able to hear God and obey His word (even when we don't fully understand it), we need to have a deeper relationship with Him. Spend more time with God in prayer. Talk to Him. Know that He is with us every day and in every situation & challenge.

3. The Eucharist and Reconciliation. We can focus on Jesus as we receive Him in the Eucharist. Prepare ourselves for an even more worthy reception of Christ by going to confession and allowing God to heal us and bring us strength.

4. Seek God out. Look for other ways to grow closer to Him. Whether it's coming to the Men's Group more often, making a retreat, or finding good spiritual reading, look for other ways to hear God speaking to us.

5. Mary. Mary was closer to Jesus than any human person ever was or ever will be. Go to her in prayer and ask for her help in following the example of St. Joseph to be a true man of God and a devoted husband and father.

Questions:

1. What strikes you most about St. Joseph? What quality do you notice most about him?

2. What ways to do you think he can help you be a better Catholic Christian? Are there particular virtues you would like to grow in that he could help with?

3. What do you think you might want to do in the coming year to grow closer to Christ and to live out your vocation as a husband or father?

4. In a culture where there is a crisis of fatherhood and masculinity, St. Joseph is an inspiring reminder of what it means to be a man: to draw your strength from intimacy with God and to use that strength to love, serve, and protect those God gives to you.