Saint Joseph is a great bridge figure between the Old and New Testaments, in the image of the Hebrew patriarchs and the adoptive father of the promised Messiah. When we think in the broadest sense about what the Jewish covenant with the Lord consists of, the two words that come to mind are “the Law and the Prophets.”
The Law, or the Torah, guided the Jewish people to live their lives well; it was more than a set of just dry rules, for a more accurate translation of Torah would be “the teachings,” the teachings of Who God is and how we can follow His plan for our lives. And we might best think of the Prophets not so much as predictors of the future, but as the pinnacle figures of Jewish prayer, similar to the great prayer mystics in our Catholic tradition.
A Man of Action and Meditation
The Jewish prophets were the ones who spoke intimately with the Lord, who could discern His true voice amidst all the noise and chaos in our troubled world. What is this, if not a powerful example of prayer? It’s no wonder that there is a very close link -- in the Scriptures themselves and in the Catholic tradition -- between the Jewish prophets and that greatest book of Jewish prayer, the Psalms.
And in today’s Gospel for this wonderful feast of Saint Joseph, we see how he embodies these two great aspects of the Jewish Covenant, the Law and the Prophets. Joseph, we are told, is righteous. He knows the teachings, and he lives his life by them, not with a kind of brutal legalism, but with a compassionate, discerning, faithful heart. But at this crucial moment in his life, Joseph’s righteousness is not enough to get him to the right decision. For this, Joseph needs prophecy; he needs prayer. His prayerful heart can tell the difference between a human dream that could be dismissed, and a prophetic dream that conveys the word of God spoken by the angelic messenger.
But lest we think that the law and the prophets, that righteousness and prayer, are opposed, we must understand that Joseph’s righteousness is exactly what compels him to obey the divine word he heard. His prayerful discernment finds its perfection in righteous action, as he welcomes Mary and her unborn Child into his house. In Joseph, the Jewish law and the prophets, Jewish teachings and prayer, unite to welcome the Jewish Messiah into His human family.
Enlightened By Prayer
Here at Holy Cross Family Ministries, we have a special mission not only to support sound Catholic teaching, but also and especially to nurture faithful Catholic prayer. In this way, we carry on the traditions that go back to our roots in ancient Israel and find a particularly powerful embodiment in Saint Joseph. Our ministry’s tagline is, of course, “The family that prays together stays together.” And it’s a remarkable thing to realize that Saint Joseph’s life proves the truth of this message in the most decisive of ways.
Without prayer, Joseph had decided in his righteousness to quietly break up his new family. Enlightened by prayer, Joseph made the decision that his family would indeed stay together. Mary, the love of Venerable Patrick Peyton’s life, is certainly the patroness of Holy Cross Family Ministries. But just as Mary always leads us to Jesus, Mary also depends on Joseph for his loving protection. They are inseparable; they are the Family. Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, guide our families in gentle righteousness and faithful prayer. Strengthen us to stay together amidst life’s distractions and trials.
- Today’s Readings
- Father Charles's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center today. You can watch the entire Mass on the Family Rosary Video streams channel on YouTube.
- Join the Rosary (11:30 am ET) and Mass (Noon ET) livestreams on the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page, Monday – Friday. Invite your friends and family to pray with you as well.
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