The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
Today is the day! I have been anxiously awaiting this day for months now, and I can hardly contain my excitement! You may be wondering, why is this girl so over-the-moon excited? What makes today so special? Good questions, friend, and I’ll tell you. Today we celebrate and honor St. Joseph, husband of the ever-virgin Mary and the protector of the Holy Family. He is the earthly father of our Savior and our ultimate spiritual father. Yes, he’s your father too! Whether you’ve chosen him or not, St. Joseph has already chosen you. And what an honor it is to be cherished by the man who once held the infant Jesus to his chest and rocked Him to sleep.
My journey with St. Joseph began only a few months ago. During this past Advent, I felt a tug on my heart to begin the new decade with Joseph by my side and he very quickly became my very persistent and benevolent saint-stalker. Before that, I rarely thought of Joseph and when I did remember him, he was always the supporting actor in the drama with his wife and son taking center stage. Slowly, and then all at once, the veil had been torn away and I could see clearly how he has been there for me all along. St. Joseph had been a father to me, working alongside God the Father to tend the gardens of my soul… and now he was knocking at the door of my heart to be let in, as only the most gentle and manliest man can do.
In today’s readings, we encounter a father who followed in Abraham’s footsteps — who believed in the message of the angel, hoping against hope in the truth of God’s promises. From Joseph, we learn what true obedience and surrender look like — even in the face of great anxiety. Because of Joseph’s yes, Mary’s yes is brought to fruition. Joseph was so docile to the spirit that even his sleep was an encounter with God.
It was Joseph, Son of David, whom the prophets foretold — the one whose heir would redeem all nations. It was Joseph who became Mary’s rock and protector. It was Joseph who saved our Savior from the hands of King Herod. It was his strength that sustained our Lady in even the most devastating trials. It was surely his memory that she clung to at the foot of the cross. It was Joseph who taught Jesus how to be a man. It was Joseph who was given the task of giving our Savior a name, and so it is Joseph who will help us reclaim our identity as Beloved Daughters and Sons.
If God entrusted His very self, and therefore the salvation of the entire world, to the care and loving protection of St. Joseph, why do we hesitate to do the same? Today, I make my act of consecration to St. Joseph, and these past six weeks of prayer and preparation have absolutely changed my life. I am convinced of the wonders of St. Joseph and the powers of his intercession. He’s been hidden for most of his earthly and heavenly life, but he is making himself known for a time such as this.
The time has come to reclaim masculinity. To redeem fatherhood. To live in purity and virtue under his watchful gaze. To let him teach us how to love. To sit and observe him in his wood shop as Jesus did. To witness the tender gaze shared between husband and wife. To reimagine the hidden life of Joseph and take him as our own father.
Now is the time of St. Joseph! Are you with me?
Laurie Medina is a graduate of Texas A&M University and a first-year participant in the Echo Graduate Service program. She loves spending time outside, getting creative, having heart conversations over coffee, and finding beauty in the holy ordinary. You can find her curled up on the couch re-reading Joy of the Gospel, arranging flowers on the dining room table, or reacting to the latest drama on the Bachelor. You can also find her on Instagram or read her latest blog posts for Life Teen.