Saint Joseph as a Model for Our Advent Spirituality
John 1: 6-8; 19-28
The testimony John gave when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask, “Who are you?” was this direct statement: “I am not the Messiah.” They questioned him further, “Who then? Elijah?” John answered, “I am not Elijah.” “Are you the Prophet?” “No,” he replied. Finally, they said to him: “Tell us who you are, so that we can give some answer to those who sent us. What do you have to say for yourself?” He said, quoting the prophet Isaiah, “I am ‘a voice in the desert crying out: Make straight the way of the Lord!’
Radical Call-Radical Answer
The preaching of John the Baptist stirred the hearts of many while angering others. His preaching was radical – personifying the Passover Event to Jesus: “Behold, there is the Lamb of God.” Many received a baptism from John. His preaching would rouse the curiosity of Herod. But in all this, John knew who he was, what he about, and knew what he was to preach.
He also knew when it was time for him to direct his followers to Jesus. He knew when it was time for him to decrease, so that Our Lord would increase the faith of his disciples.
The Levites ask: What do you have to say for yourself? John answered very clearly. I would like to propose this same question to you: What do you have to say for yourself? For some of you, this will be the first Advent you will celebrate as a seminarian of the Church. For some of you, this is the first time you celebrate Advent as a deacon and the last time you celebrate Advent before ordination to the priesthood. For some of you, this is the first time you celebrate Advent as a theologian. For some of us, this is the first time we celebrate Advent in New Orleans.
Celebrating the mysteries of the Lord in the liturgical seasons of the Church never occurs in a static, routine, here-we-go-again manner. Rather, the mysteries of the Lord penetrate our time, our human experience, our Church, and our vocations.
So, in a couple of weeks we will return to Notre Dame Seminary to resume priestly formation but in the season of Advent. What do you have to say for yourself? What are the questions I should be asking myself in order to prepare for Advent? How will Advent inspire my formation and discernment? How can Advent strengthen my identity as a seminarian of the Church? These are questions that you and your formation advisor and spiritual director can be asking.
John was appointed by God the Father to prepare the way for the Lord. This meant he has to know himself. Many questions were being asked of John. What do you have to say for yourself? You too already have experienced a similar context.
When you announced to family and friends that you were entering the seminary, lots of questions were asked of you. Some of you left your country to come here for priestly formation. Maybe the question was formulated in a more profane way than the question posed to John: What do you have to say for yourself?
When you are home of Thanksgiving Break and over the Christmas Season, many will continue to ask: What do you have to say for yourself? Do you still feel called to the priesthood? Are you really going to live celibacy forever? Many may know of your past sins and challenge you – who do you think you are, holier than the rest of us?
While we may lament over these questions, they actually provide us a reason to be convicted in who we are. What do you have to say for yourself? Well, Saint John the Baptist reveals the mystery of God’s plan by answering the question. If the question had not been answered, other venues would have to give meaning to what John was preaching and why he was preaching it.
So, in the landscape of evangelization, consider the question the Church and your family and friends often ask of you: What do you have to say for yourself? Maybe the Lord will bring many blessings to you over the Advent Season giving further certainty to your discernment and formation.
Maranatha – Come Lord Jesus!
The Church cries out with gladness: Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus! Make this your own prayer, your own rejoicing in Advent. Jesus himself is asking you the question: What do you have to say for yourself? “I brought you into the seminary, I am giving you time for formation, I am giving you the opportunity to study the truth in coursework, I am giving you time and space for prayer – are you giving me everything that I deserve?” What do you have to say for yourself?
And so, in order for us to be faithful in our vocation of discernment and formation, we cry out – sometimes in joy, sometimes in frustration, sometimes with tired bodies, many times in exaltation – Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus! “Come to me now! Come to me so I can be a faithful seminarian of the Church.”
But listen carefully the voice of the Lord in your prayer, when you are sitting before the Blessed Sacrament, when you are devoutly praying the Divine Office, when you are taking a quiet walk, when you are being challenged in formation, when a friend says something to you – listen to how the Lord responds to our plea – Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus – He may say back – Emmanuel: I am here! “I am with you. My crucifixion has tied me, conjoined me to your suffering. My Resurrection has conjoined me to you as a new creation, to the new man you are as a Christian, to the new man you will become as a priest.”
Of course, the Church instructs us in the Ceremonial of Bishops to what we mean by Maranatha and what Advent celebrates: It is a time to prepare for Christmas, when Christ’s First Coming is remembered; it is a time when the remembrance directs our minds and heart to await Christ’s Second Coming in the last days. Advent is a period of devout and joyful expectation (CB 235).
Considering the petition in the Lord’s Prayer – thy Kingdom come – we indeed are praying for Christ’s return, for the fullness of the Kingdom. As Blessed John Paul II wrote in his last encyclical letter, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, we don’t have to wait until as are dead to start experiencing the Kingdom of God. The Holy Eucharist is a foretaste of that Kingdom which awaits us. For indeed, as John the Baptist declares: the Kingdom of God is here.
The Kingdom of God is present at Notre Dame Seminary. Therefore, we approach our priestly formation with a sense of awe, humility and graciousness. The Kingdom of God is here – we don’t have to flee the seminary to find it elsewhere. You are called to be an active agent of this apostolic community – building up this community with your presence, words, deeds, and faith.
What do you have to say for yourself? How will this Advent be a time for you and me to manifest the Kingdom of God at Notre Dame Seminary, in this house of faith, in this apostolic community?
I would like to use the remainder of this conference to explore how Saint Joseph had to answer the question: What do you have to say for yourself? After Our Lady conceived by the Holy Spirit, Joseph had to submit himself to the will of God. He was called to love Our Lady and to protect the nascent Church that she would bear in her womb – indeed reverencing this human tabernacle with his life.
For seminarians, you have no idea how your future will unfold. For those called to the priesthood, you do not know what pastoral situations are waiting for you. You do not know what assignments the bishop will entrust to you. You are learning the theology of priesthood; you have some experience with pastoral ministry; you are living out in some ways the expectations of celibacy, obedience, and prayer; and, you are discerning what gifts and charisms God has given to you and how these may be used for ministry. In all this, however, you do not know what struggles, temptation, and obstacles there will be in your future.
Saint Joseph is a particular friend for seminarians and priests. The Advent season points to Saint Joseph as we prepare for the Christmas season. The Church brings Saint Joseph front and center in your discernment so his friendship and intercession can inspire your formation.
Saint Joseph as Model for the Advent Mysteries
Please permit me to take some spiritual license with how the Lord directed Saint Joseph, how Saint Joseph responded, and what this might mean for you. I draw these reflections from the passages in the Gospel of Saint Matthew. How does Saint Joseph respond to the question: What do you have to say for yourself?
1) Joseph, son of David, have no fear!
After it was announced that Mary was pregnant, the Lord addresses Joseph as one who is a son: Joseph, son of David, have no fear! The sonship of Joseph indicates that his humanity will sustain Joseph and allow him to embrace the will of God.
Joseph belongs to a family, a man who has a history, a man with a past. Joseph, son of David, have no fear! What type of family do you come from? The genealogy of Jesus reveals murderers, adulterers, holy men and women. We all come from the human condition. We all have family situations to rejoice, and those we are ashamed of. And in all of this, God comes to speak to you. Joseph, son of David.
We should be aware of who we are, where we come from, and not be ashamed. Michael, Patrick, Eric, Austin, Colm, John Bosco, Jean-Marie, John Paul – sons of your father. How does our sonship with family members form and shape my attitudes today? As a man, what should I embrace because of the family I come from and what needs to be purified and reconciled in my life because of the imperfections of the human nature?
Joseph, son of David, have no fear. The Lord’s call recognizes Joseph’s humanity but also offers a consolation – have no fear. Joseph, son of David, have no fear. All of you seminarians, sons, have no fear.
The Lord speaks to Joseph – a man, a carpenter, a man with a dream, a vision, how he thought life could be lived. But now, this must change. What will not change is the fact that he continues to be a man, a man with skills to be used, dreams to be followed. He remains – Joseph, son of David. What do you have to say for yourself? Joseph answered the question perfectly.
2) Have no fear about taking Mary as your wife.
Have no fear! It seems the Lord acknowledges the potential for Joseph’s fear. The Lord also recognizes the potential of our own fears. Have no fear about taking on priesthood. Have no fear about discerning celibacy and obedience. Have no fear about your limitations. Have no fear about your weaknesses.
Self-knowledge nevertheless demands that we know what those fears are. Formation demands that we bring to the Lord through the Church what those fears are. What is your fear? Are you afraid of celibacy? Are you afraid of obedience? Are you afraid that your dreams will not be fulfilled? What kind of a pastor would I be? How will the bishop assign me? How will my prayer life be changed if I became a priest? I have a vision of how I think the Church will be. I have all of these skills, an educational background, a dream of how I can make a difference – will the bishop acknowledge this?
You have heard me emphasize the Church’s vision that a diocesan priest is a spouse of the Church.
The Lord instructs Joseph to take Mary and to take her as his wife. The implications of this would be huge. The Lord does not tell Joseph at first of what this will require of him. At this point, the Lord chooses to not reveal that the Holy Family would be rejected and that Mary would have to give birth in a stable. The Lord does not reveal the murderous plots of Herod. The Lord does not reveal that Joseph would have to take his family out of the country. The Lord does not reveal that Jesus would be given the death sentence of a criminal.
Should God have told him? Would this have changed anything? Would Joseph react – no way!
No. Why? Because Joseph already loved Mary. This love precedes what God was asking. The prevenient response of Joseph to love Mary is what allows him to say “yes” to God. God has faith in Joseph. I do not need to reveal all of this because Joseph has all that is needed to fulfill his vocation. Joseph is a man’s man. While indeed there would be natural fears, Joseph is a man of virtue. He does not complain, moan, whine, question. He does not nid-pick the plan of God. He responds! Joseph loves God. Joseph loves Mary.
My dear sons of the Church – many of you are being asked to become spouses of the Church. Do not fear to take her as your spouse. Like Joseph, you already love her. You love the Church. You love her sacred liturgy, her teachings, her sacramental life, her Body. You want to defend her.
For those of you called to be priests – you must unconditionally take the Church as your spouse. A lot will be asked of you through the voice and ministry of your bishop. Have no fear!
If you love her, you will go to any distance to be with her. How much Saint Joseph loved his wife. What a great model for us men here. What do you have to say for yourself? Joseph answered the question perfectly.
3) You are to name him Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.
Saint Joseph is given the command and the opportunity to name the child Jesus. The power that the Church gives to a priest is a power at the service of Jesus Christ.
Because Joseph did not fear, he was able to respond to what God was asking of him. Obedience out of freedom to God’s plan, makes Saint Joseph a model for seminarians. Joseph would have no idea how Jesus would indeed save people from their sins. He did his part and let Divine Providence unfold.
We learn that God invites us to be partners with the redemptive plan of salvation. The visible partnership between man and God is seen in the holy priesthood. People see in us the power of God that will save them from their sins.
Considering the great teaching of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, the priest looks to his bishop who represents the power of the Father.
This trust and filial affection is cultivated in the seminary experience of formation. Having no fear and preparing to receive power is fundamentally an exercise of healthy obedience. As the priest himself will exercise authority over his flock, he must first be able to live under authority as Christ, the Son of God, so perfectly lived, even unto death on the Cross.
In this Advent season, what are your fears? Do you bristle with authority, following the schedule, bringing suspect to the ways by which we live the rule of life?
Great power is given to the priest and he must specifically, faithfully and deliberately exercise that power.
You are to name him Jesus because he will save his people from their sins. A command and an opportunity – and Joseph did what he supposed to. And, Jesus, in fact, did save us from our sins. What do you have to say for yourself? Joseph answered the question perfectly.
4) Get up, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt.
When the Lord told Joseph to not fear and to take Mary as his wife, he had no idea what lay in store for him. What he did know was his love for Mary and his trust in God. This love and trust would sustain Joseph in his vocation of being a faithful husband and father.
Danger was knocking and Saint Joseph acted swiftly. Certainly relying on the grace of God, Joseph also relied upon his God-given virtues cultivated freely by his own determination.
As a result, Joseph did not run away from his responsibilities rather followed carefully what God was asking. The command – “get up” – presumes that Joseph will be man enough to “get up.” He doesn’t state – let me a form a committee, let me take a few weeks to discuss this with many people, let me sleep on it – “get up.”
When it comes to ministry, we do indeed collaborate and use structures such as committees to discern how we will go about ministry in an effective way. When it comes to our personal vocation, we take personal responsibility under the guidance of the Church to respond to God’s will. “Get up, Joseph” gives direction to Joseph. Because of his faith in God and his love for Mary, Joseph completes the task at hand.
It can sometimes be hard to “get up.” Life might be comfortable for you – even in the seminary. Maybe you have got your rhythm and you do not want anyone to change anything. I am sure Joseph dreamed about having children, being a father who would have a stable household and career, and he would be a grandfather with many grandchildren. “Get up.” Go – my will for you is different. I need you to go to Egypt.
For the life of a priest, it is the bishop who articulates the needs of the Church. Where will Egypt be for the priest? What will God ask of us? In one sense, it makes no difference because, like Joseph, we love our spouse and we are faithful to her. Trust in God always prevails. Lord, I want to be with my wife – wherever she is, I will be.
Essential to the spirituality of a priest is his service to the People of God completely at the discretion of the shepherds who must discern what the needs of the Church are. There is a freedom that comes to the priest.
All Joseph had to do was commit himself to what God asked – not fearing to take Mary as his wife. From there, God directed him of what to do next. Our bishops make visible in their apostolic ministry the fidelity that God has always promised.
Christ makes this point clearly in the gospels that the Advocate would be with the apostles until the end of time.
Protecting the Church as Saint Joseph protected the holy family requires a seminarian to have an undivided love for the Church and therefore an undivided respect and obedience to the bishop who is the Church’s first guardian.
During the Advent season, we might consider what the needs are of our diocesan churches and religious communities. We might bring before the Lord our natural fears about the type of “Egypt” the Lord may ask me to embrace.
Saint Joseph was asked to protect his family. With a masculine virtue, with an affective maturity to embrace the will of God, with the heart of a loving husband, and as a man of devout faith, Saint Joseph is a role model for us seminarians and priests. What do you have to say for yourself? Joseph answered the question perfectly.
Some Advent Considerations
Joseph responded to the Lord faithfully and without hesitation. John the Baptist had to answer the question – What do you have to say for yourself? Because of the ways in which he was responding to the Lord: I am the voice crying out in the desert; I make straight the way of the Lord.
During this Year of Faith, the Church has to answer the question: What do you have to say for yourself? The Church here in the United States is going through a persecution of sorts. People do not like the power and authority of the Church. People within the life of the Church often neglect their faith for politics, ideology, or indifference.
The Church finds herself following the ways of Saint John the Baptist – he was a voice crying out in the desert. The Church is the voice now crying out in the desert. Priestly ministry is often a voice crying out in the desert.
But as John announces – his voice in the desert is to make straight the way of the Lord. The role of the Church is to make the path to Jesus Christ accessible for only he can quench the thirst of man.
Without the Church, there are no pathways to Christ. Without the Church, man creates his own pathway to Christ – a pathway riddled with pride, arrogance, narcissism, and egoism. Hence, the path takes us to our own gods, the god of self.
The Church is prefigured in the obedience of Saint Joseph and the heraldry of Saint John the Baptist’s preaching.
What do you have to say for yourself? For Joseph – complete obedience to the will of God. In this obedience, the Holy Family would be protected; Blessed Mother would give birth; Jesus would be reared.
What do you have to say for yourself? For Saint John the Baptist, his preaching would gather disciples and prepare them to receive Jesus Christ. John would give his life for the Word of God, for the Lamb of God.
What do you have to say for yourself? The Church has something to say. She is called to lovingly, joyfully, and consistently make straight paths to Jesus so that mankind would have access to the Way, Truth, and Life.
What do you have to say for yourself? Priests who are not obstacles to Jesus but minsters of His priesthood; men capable of bearing the joys and burdens of pastoral ministry; seminarians who are serious about their pursuit of holiness, their education in the faith, the cultivation of virtues needed for priestly life.
What do you have to say for yourself? The Advent season makes clear that we are often called to be those voices in the desert, a voice of the Church; a spouse and protector of the Word of God.
It is in the desert where the Church finds herself. It is in the desert where her priests live and dwell. It is in our journey to Egypt, ultimately Jerusalem, where the priests guide the flock.
From Darkness into the Light
As we prepare for the Advent Season, we consider the ongoing conversion needed in our discernment and formation. For some of you, this is your last Advent with us; for some of you this is your last Advent as a lay person; for many of us, this is our first time celebrating Advent at Notre Dame Seminary. In whatever position we find ourselves, we celebrate the Advent Season connected to this apostolic community. Our prayer life should reflect this connectedness and what we would like to receive from God and what we should be giving over to God as seminarians and priests of Notre Dame Seminary.
The candles that we light and burn on the Advent wreath draw us to the eventual Easter fire that signifies the light of Christ conquering the darkness of sin. The totality of Jesus’ life begins with our preparations for his birth. Mary and Joseph had to prepare themselves for the birth of Christ. Elizabeth and Zechariah had to prepare themselves for the plan of God. John leapt in the womb for joy as a sign of his own preparation for later prophecy. Herod was threatened by what was unfolding – he lived in fear. The Advent fire recalls the first victory of God’s Word in the birth of Christ in which nothing was to prevent the breaking forth of God’s Word.
Getting ready to celebrate His birth and preparing ourselves for the fullness of God’s Kingdom requires work, purification, and the pursuit of holiness. And all of this presumes our freedom to embrace the will of God. What do you have to say for yourself? – a question that Advent brings to us.
The color purple signifies the sacrifices each believer must make but also the joy that results from faithful sacrifice. The consolation and promise of God is made clear – Emmanuel, God is with us! We are never alone.
Conclusion
As you prepare for Thanksgiving Break, I express my gratitude to you. I am immensely proud of each one of you. We are all so very different – but we are all so joyful in our faith. We live together – we see the best of human nature, sometimes we are disappointed as we see imperfection in us. Nevertheless, we are an apostolic community – disciples gathered by the Lord to be here: to discern, to pray, to study, to be brothers to one another; we are seeking conversion, a deeper relationship with God and His Church. In this time and space, we are working out our salvation.
The seminary is not an extrinsic, accidental aspect to who we are but a necessary means by which we confirm what God is asking of us. What do you have to say for yourself? The Church stands with each one us to assist in answering the question.
Advent prepares the world, the Church, our families and churches, and each one of us to welcome Christ into our hearts. We are awaiting with joyful hope for that final coming when the manifestation of God’s Kingdom will be complete. In the meantime, Advent takes on a sacerdotal quality – a discernment of Christ’s priesthood breaking forth in the Church.
May Saint Joseph, man, spouse, father, protector, guide, shepherd, carpenter be that model and intercessor for you, dear sons of the Church!
The testimony John gave when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask, “Who are you?” was this direct statement: “I am not the Messiah.” They questioned him further, “Who then? Elijah?” John answered, “I am not Elijah.” “Are you the Prophet?” “No,” he replied. Finally, they said to him: “Tell us who you are, so that we can give some answer to those who sent us. What do you have to say for yourself?” He said, quoting the prophet Isaiah, “I am ‘a voice in the desert crying out: Make straight the way of the Lord!’
Let us praise the Lord and give Him thanks!
Rector’s Conference
Very Reverend James A. Wehner, S.T.D.
November 16, 2012