The door is guarded by a man of God.
Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Joseph, the patron of the Universal Church. Thousands of pilgrims will travel to his shrine in Montreal, where Saint Andre Bessette guards the way. Saint Andre hailed from a poor family, but became the door keeper of Notre Dame College in Montreal, where he remained for 39 long years. Andre was a patient listener and called himself a watchdog of Saint Joseph, helping people to communicate with Saint Joseph and God.
As we hear today, Joseph is a discrete figure in the gospels. He was just a man. A simple man, like Andre. God chose him and he remained faithful to accomplish his duty as the head of the Holy Family.
Lent is a special time of removing all fear from our life. Perhaps we need to hear someone tell us not to be afraid, as the angel did for Joseph. How can we be supportive of our families during this time? Can we do better in listening to the Lord?
Encourage our family members who are in distress Lord! Let us be a comfort to them. Amen.
