LENTEN REFLECTION: The Faith and Courage of St. Joseph

“When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.” 

In today’s reading, I was struck most by the simple response of Joseph after the angel revealed God’s plan to him in a dream.   In that dream the angel’s first words were, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid…”.  So it means he was afraid, probably of what people would think of his scandalous situation - being betrothed to a woman who was already pregnant, and not by him!  He already had a plan: to quietly divorce her, and distance himself from this scandal.   Yet after the angel’s revelation, he must have thought:  ”What does it matter what other people think?  This is what God wants me to do, so I will do it.” 

I remember today the times in my own life when I knew the right thing to do,  but lacked the courage and the resolve to do it, and I imagine the verse that would be written about me: “When Obet awoke, he did not do as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, for he was too afraid,” and I appreciate more fully the simple and strong faith of this quiet man named Joseph. 

No words uttered by Joseph were ever recorded in the Gospels (I think), but Jesus was guided to maturity by Mama Mary and by this quiet man of a strong and simple faith. 

Lord, grant me faith and courage.

----

Roberto C. Tanchanco, MD, MBA is an associate professor and Year Level 8 Coordinator at the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health.