Our oblivion of the sacred silence.

Reflection on the holy Gospel reading (St. Matthew 1:18-25)- Revelation to St. Joseph the just.

The crux of Christmas and thereby the story of salvation of mankind can be summed up as the humility and love of God for man that made Him willingly endure Cross and trample death. In communities with a deep foundation of patriarchal values, machismo is the norm while the godly virtues of humility and silence is considered highly incongruous for the man of the house. In this backdrop we remember the angelic command to an ordinary carpenter-St. Joseph the just, an epitome of silence of humility who faithfully and silently ministered his betrothed Blessed Virgin and her Child.

In my limited knowledge, only two parishes in India under the Malankara Orthodox Church are named after St. Joseph the just (one in Tughlakabad, New Delhi and the other in Bangalore).

Why is our tradition strangely silent in commemorating the feast of the foster father of our Lord? Why have we allowed his memory to fade? 

 - Is it because St. Joseph’s mission of servant leadership in domestic life upends the societal privileges of men in a family set-up? The renowned poet from Kerala, K Satchidanandan writes- “To love a woman is to exchange the harshness of your muscles for the tenderness of a flower.” (While I Write; Harper Collins). To follow St Joseph’s mission in family life is to execute the great burden that society has traditionally thrust upon women- to silently continue work amidst sufferings and to be content with a second place in home and life.  

 - Is it because the role of St. Joseph as the helper (of the Blessed Virgin and her Child) will trigger the combustible egos of the patriarchal society that fosters a skewed concept of family dynamics wherein the commitment to marital duties falls chiefly on the woman?

 - Is it because on such feast day(s) the sermons on St. Joseph’s silent relentless service to his betrothed Blessed Virgin and her Child will prick the societal conscience as it will serve as an yearly reminder to the menfolk of their duty to selflessly serve their home/community? 

 “Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” (St. Matthew 1:19-20; NKJV).

Seen from the conventional lens of the society this verse is understood to praise St. Joseph’s magnanimity in not divorcing the holy Theotokos for her alleged unchastity. However, seen from the spiritual lens of St. Joseph, it is an act stemming from his humility. How is St. Joseph’s intent to separate from St. Mary considered just and an act of humility?

In the Old Testament narrative regarding the birth of Samson we note that Manoah doubted his wife's story about an angelic visit promising them parenthood. The Angel of the Lord gives a patient hearing when Manoah probes further (ref: Judges 13, NKJV).

The betrothed Virgin tells Angel Gabriel during the annunciation - “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” This very statement of St. Mary shows her resolve to lead a celibate life. It is improbable that St. Joseph would be unaware of the Blessed Virgin’s determination and her spiritual depth. If St. Joseph doubted the Virgin’s chastity, he too could have asked for proof like Manoah did - praying for a second angelic visitation in his presence. If God was so patient with Manoah's questions, surely He would have heeded to the righteous man’s request to alleviate doubts on the Virgin Birth.

On a closer scrutiny of the verses, we note that unlike the various angelic visitations in the New Testaments, wherein the angels reassure the listeners to not be afraid of their presence, St. Joseph is instead asked not to fear in taking St. Mary as his wife.

"When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (St. Luke 5:8; NKJV). This passage tells the incident about Jesus calling the four fishermen as disciples and the miracle of catching a multitude of fishes. After the miraculous catch of the fish, Simon Peter becomes aware that he has encountered holy, and he asks Jesus to go away because he sees himself as unworthy to stand close to Him.

As a devout Jew, St. Joseph would be aware of the prophecies of Isaiah regarding the Virgin birth of the Lord. Those great frightening events prophesied ages ago were now unfolding right before his eyes. Like Simon Peter requesting the Lord to depart from Him being aware of his own unworthiness, the righteous St. Joseph considers himself extremely unworthy for the great calling. He is overwhelmed with the great fear of the holy- the great fear of being in the same dwelling as the Lord and His mother and it is this holy fear of his that the angel comforts. 

Origen says: "But if he had no suspicion of her, how could he be a just man, and yet seek to put her away, being immaculate? He sought to put her away, because he saw in her a great sacrament, to approach which he thought himself unworthy." (Catena; Thomas Aquinas)

St. Joseph’s dilemma with a pregnant Virgin can be contemplated in the first four beatitudes [St. Matthew 5:3-10] - a broken (poor in spirit-v.3) and grieving (mourn-v.4) man who mourns in silence (meek-v.5) longing to do what is right (hunger and thirst for righteousness- v.6]. Jesus calls such a man blessed.

In the next four beatitudes the virtues of St. Joseph can be contemplated upon. While going through upheavals for sake of our Lord (mockery for being with a young pregnant Virgin, displacement, massacre, exile etc.), in little what the Scripture says about him, we can sense that St. Joseph is merciful (v.7) towards the needs of his family, his conduct is pure (v.8), and he tries his best to give a life of peace to the Theotokos and her Child (v.9). The beatitudes end with a promise of the kingdom of heaven to those who are persecuted for righteousness’s sake (v.10). St. Joseph led a life of great struggle in silence and indeed, he was blessed to receive the taste of heaven- to depart the earthly life in the arms of his Lord and His mother.

How many men engrossed in the travails and temptations of the world can afford to look at their family mercifully, lead a life of purity for their children to emulate and ensure peace in their home? If ever a day is set apart commemorating his feast of St. Joseph the just, then such day should be dedicated as the Father's Day of the church. Such a day ought to serve as a great reminder for the fathers (whether spiritual or biological) to follow St. Joseph's footsteps, and to seek his intercessions so that they faithfully and selflessly conduct their stewardship duties towards home and the church. 

By the prayers and intercessions of St. Joseph the Just, may the Lord strengthen us to follow our calling faithfully and may He be pleased to dwell in our unworthy hearts and homes.

In Christ,

Rincy