Can you imagine the anxiety in the heart of Joseph when he needs to tell Mary that he's taking her, nine months pregnant, to be enrolled in a census? As they set off for Bethlehem, Joseph needed deep faith in the Lord's providence to help him protect mother and child. Mary would have relied on his masculine heart and desire to care for her. She would have rested in the peace of knowing that Joseph was trustworthy, that he would not allow any harm to come to them.
In that moment (of the Nativity), gazing into the eyes of the Son of God, Joseph welcomed Him into his fatherly heart as his son, his true son, and promised to be the guardian of the mystery "hidden for ages in the mind of God."
From Consecration to Jesus through Saint Joseph:
An Integrated Look at the Holy Family
(pp. 67- 68)
Bottaro and Settle
"It follows that Jospeh's fatherhood--a relationship that places him as close as possible to Christ, to whom every election and predestination is ordered--comes to pass through marriage to Mary, that is, through the family."
Redemptoris Custos, 7
Pope Saint John Paul II
Do you ever feel like you are not up to the task that the Lord is asking you?
Yes.
In those moments do you rely on the grace of the Lord or do you fall into self-reliance?
More often than not, I fall into self-reliance.
Is your heart open to receive others as spiritual sons and daughters?
Yes. It helps that I'm learning to be more patient about the little annoyances and disagreements of life.
To love them as if they are your own, to guide and protect them?
Yes. This is a real test of humility and generosity.
Ask St. Joseph today about how his heart received Jesus and ask for the grace to receive Jesus in yours.
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