“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” What a beautiful greeting Saint Paul wrote in the second reading for mass today. It is a beautiful, and peaceful way to begin reflecting on the scriptures for mass. Grace and peace is something we all seek, especially these last days of Advent, as we approach the birth of Christ. Grace and peace usually escape us because our will is not in union with God’s will. Grace and peace find their source in God and his son Jesus Christ. We must continually seek a closer union of our will with God’s will for our lives, otherwise discord will erupt and destroy our peace.
Saint Joseph really struggled with his self will. He wanted Mary for his wife, and yet she was pregnant with someone else’s child. From all appearances sake, she had greatly sinned. In his mind, he thought the right thing to do was to divorce her quietly.
We do not know if they argued over who the father of her child was, or not. Catholics view Mary as being the holiest, most pure woman who ever lived, but at the time, Joseph didn’t. Mary no doubt was falsely accused. This is something for us to remember as well. Even if we have the purest intentions, they can be misinterpreted by others who do not know all of the circumstances. Mother Teresa, wrote a few sentences of guidance on this subject called “DoitAnway”. Pope John Paul II was also frequently criticized, but it would help to remember that both Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II were deemed to be saints, even in spite of any venial sins they may have committed.
Another thing to remember, is that Joseph considered a divorce, and he was a very righteous and holy man. He thought he had a valid reason to do so. Divorce would not have been considered a sin for Joseph and it is still not a sin in the Catholic church today. Sometimes there are valid reasons for doing so, but Saint Joseph found out that the truth is not always what it appears to be on the surface of things.
The angel Gabriel explained the truth of Mary’s pregnancy to Saint Joseph in a dream. When Joseph woke up, he made the decision to believe and accept what the angel told him in the dream was true. This is why he is a saint. He made the decision to believe what the angel told him. Everything that followed flowed from this decision. God respects man’s freewill, but He did send an extra grace to Joseph in his sleep, when he was most relaxed and willing to listen.
Saint Joseph trusted God with their future. He had no way of knowing how things would turn out. Saint Joseph simply believed in God and trusted that He would take care of their needs in the future.
This would be a good thing to focus on, for today’s readings for mass. To learn from Saint Joseph’s example and trust God with our own future. It’s difficult to let go of our own will and allow it to be aligned with God’s, but this is the only way that grace and peace will reign in our own lives, especially this advent season.
