Last year, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Francis announced the Year of Saint Joseph and invited the universal church to meditate on the patronage of the foster father of Jesus, to implore his intercession, and to imitate his virtues and his zeal.

Like many saints whose lineage can be traced back to the earliest days of the church, very little is known of Saint Joseph. However, the hiddenness of his life can also speak to those overwhelmed by the pandemic, those forced to live hidden away, isolated and alone, those who wonder if God is with them, if God sees.

Appearing only briefly in the Gospels, given no words at all to speak, Saint Joseph led a life of quiet service to God, a life that remains almost totally unknown to us. And yet the life of Saint Joseph — filled with countless hidden, unseen, unrecorded acts of love — was of infinite value. Saint Joseph’s life says to all of us, “God sees … He sees even what is hidden.”

Today, March 19, as we celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, we are invited to take time and listen to the Lord today in the many ways that He manifests Himself to us: in the Eucharist, in front of the Blessed Sacrament, through His words in the Scriptures, in our relationships within our family, our church, and even those random encounters we have every day, even on events like this one for Saint Joseph which really aims to gather our ministries together in a spirit of community and service.

Like the silent Saint Joseph, the foster father of Jesus and husband of Mary, may we better understand the plan of God in our lives through our listening, and in our listening, learn how to understand and obey. Let us pray to Saint Joseph that our hearts may clearly discern what is God’s plan and that we may generously cooperate in it.

Saint Joseph, pray for us!

Peace and blessings,

Father Erick

(5th Sunday of Lent)