Keep Christ at the Center of Your Life

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Each year during the seasons of Advent and Christmas, the Church affords us the opportunity to meditate upon the Infancy Narratives in sacred scripture. We do this so that we might better come to understand and know God’s precious Gift, which is His Son, Jesus Christ.

It is the Son who comes into the world in order to redeem and save us from the power of sin and death. God, who in His goodness, assumes our human nature, taking to Himself that which needs redemption. Saint Gregory of Nazianzus wrote, “That which is not assumed is not healed; but that which is united to God is saved.”

Essential to the plan of salvation was the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our Lady, who in her beautiful response to God’s invitation to cooperate in His divine plan, proclaimed: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be it done to me according to your word.” This time of the year gives us a great opportunity to contemplate her “fiat” or her “yes” to God’s plan.

If we are not careful, we might lose sight of the important role Saint Joseph plays in the birth of Our Savior. As we examine his life, we come to see him as a faithful, loving, and courageous man. He is the just and righteous man who inspires us to be more faithful disciples of Christ.

In Saint Matthew’s Gospel, we read “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit.” 

The scriptures inform us that Saint Joseph was a “just” or “righteous” man, and because of this he did not want to expose her to the law. If he were to do so, she would have suffered under the penalty of the law. Saint Joseph, being the righteous man, knew the law well and was faithful to it in his daily practice. This created a dilemma his life. Should he expose her to the law and it’s penalty? Or should he follow another plan of action?

The scriptures inform us that because he was a just man, he decided to divorce her quietly. This act on the part of Saint Joseph showed the depth of his love for Our Lady. His desire was to proceed in secrecy rather than to announce to the world this outwardly perceived indiscretion. We are able to see in this heroic act Saint Joseph’s desire to protect the Blessed Virgin Mary and her child.

The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.” Joseph’s receptivity to the message of the angel demonstrates that he was a man of prayer. Had he not been a man of prayer, perhaps he would have dismissed the message as simply an odd dream.

However, because he was a prayerful man who daily raised his heart and mind to God, he was able to recognize in this dream God’s divine plan.

“When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.”

Saint Joseph did not delay. He heard the message and gave assent to it by welcoming the Blessed Virgin into his home.     

Saint Joseph’s courageous act should inspire us to live our faith in a more public and faithful manner.

We live in a society in which the practice of our faith comes under great scrutiny. It takes reliance upon the grace of God and great courage to live our Catholic faith. Saint Joseph is the example of the brave and loyal man.

On Saturday, December 18, I had the privilege to bless the new Saint Joseph Shelter and Soup Kitchen in Gallup. The new facility is located on the same spot as the old one, which was Casa San Martin. The Missionaries of Charity, who operate the facility, had requested a change of name for the building. 

Their desire was to place the patronage of the building and the work done there under the protection of Saint Joseph.  
 

Saint Joseph’s example of fidelity, love, and courage will be a daily reminder to the sisters and all who serve at the shelter of God’s goodness, especially to the poor. 

At the entrance of the building is a beautiful statue of Saint Joseph and the Christ Child that came from one of the Missionaries of Charity house in San Francisco. The statue will serve as a reminder to each person who enters the building to invoke the intercessory prayer of Saint Joseph.

Have a blessed and glorious Christmas celebration and season. May you imitate the example of the Holy Family and keep Christ at the center of your life.

Sincerely Yours in Christ,
+Bishop James S. Wall