This week I heard a song that stayed with me. It wasn’t one of those overplayed or catchy ones that you can’t stop hearing. Instead, it made me want to go back and listen again and think some more.
It’s titled “A Strange Way to Save the World” and sung by Rascal Flatts. The singer takes the voice of St. Joseph, who is asking himself and God a series of questions as he stands by Mary and the newborn Jesus. He asks questions with true wonder like, “Why me?” “Why her?” “Why Him?” and “Why here?”
But before Joseph could stand at that manger, after he learned that Mary was with child, he needed to be reassured by an angel of God that it was right to take Mary into his home. He needed to ask how could this be right? And so, the angel of God reassures him that it was not through a man but through the Holy Spirit that Mary conceived a son.
For Joseph to be able to hear this message and believe in it, it took an openness and obedience to God’s incredible ways. Joseph’s goodness and faith are wonderful examples for all of us to hope and trust God’s providence, His way.
Joseph believed that God was with him and Mary while she was pregnant with and after the birth of Jesus. Like us, he had questions, but because he was a man of faith, he could bring them to God, who showed him how to be a husband and foster father to Jesus, our Savior.
One reason the song I mentioned drew me in was that it was from St. Joseph’s perspective, a righteous man who never could have imagined what God would ask him to do. If God could ask St. Joseph, that means He could ask any of us to help in His plan of salvation; in fact, God does, and the question isn’t “Why me?" … but rather, "How can I do it, Lord? Show me.”
Today, we give thanks to St. Joseph for his seeking to do the will of God, even when it doesn’t make sense to us without asking some questions of the One with all the answers.
- Father Willy's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning during Mass at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)
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