What would Joseph say to us?

Today is one of the greatest feast days for the Church but especially for men, the Feast of St. Joseph. St Joseph is our model as guardian of the family, protector of wives and children as he protected the Holy Family. Joseph’s purity is the model for all men and allows him to follow God’s plan perfectly. He is our example in the fight against evil. He is called “Terror of Demons.” As I was praying this morning and meditating on St. Joseph and his God-given role as husband and father, I asked “What would Joseph say to us?” What would his words to us, Jesus’ followers, Jesus’ warrior-brothers be?

As many of you know, Sacred Scripture gives us no words of Joseph. We have words from the Father concerning Jesus in Mt 3:17 after Jesus was baptized: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Then again, in Mt 17:5 when Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John on Mt Tabor: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, listen to him.” We also have words from Mary, Joseph’s wife, the great Mother of God in Jn 2:5, when at the wedding feast of Cana, she instructs the servants, and indeed all of us, to “Do whatever He tells you.” So, we have words from Jesus’ Heavenly Father and Jesus’ earthly mother as it regards how or what to do regarding Jesus. But what would Joseph tell us?

So, I asked this question in my prayer time this morning. This is what I received: “Die with Him.”

Joseph knew Jesus’ mission. No doubt about it. He knew the Scriptures and the prophecies; he knew Jesus would die to save all mankind. I envision Joseph looking at me and you, putting his hand on your shoulder and mine, and looking us in the eyes. Joseph wants us to walk with Jesus in His most difficult time, along His most difficult road, to accompany Him to Calvary. He wants us to be there, to “die with Him.” But in truth, I fear this. It is one thing to vocalize my love for Jesus, to pray and thank Jesus for the blessings and graces in my life, but it is another thing entirely to die with Him. Yet I know this is the way. St. Paul in Philippians 1:21 says, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Jesus tells us in Mt 10:39, “He who finds his life with lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.”

This is the way, the way of the cross, the way that ends in death to self, death with Jesus. In my mind, dying with Jesus has two elements: The first is that I live a life in union with Jesus, daily. I peak with Him, I walk with Him, I work with Him; if I die that day it would be in His presence, my life has been ordered to serving and following Him.

Tradition teaches that Joseph died in the presence of Jesus and Mary - a most happy death! Secondly, I must walk the way of the cross, the hard road to Calvary with Jesus. I must shoulder His cross, like Simon of Cyrene. I must look into His eyes and His bloody face, strain to help lift the cross from His shoulders, and I must sweat and labor with Him. I must die with Him.

You and I have no power to do this on our own. We must beg the Father and Jesus to send the Holy Spirit, to fill us and strengthen us. This is impossible on our own, but with God “all things are possible.” Even the strength to “die with Jesus”.