Saint Joseph's Silent Leadership

Welcome to episode 13 of the Christ by the Sea Parish Podcast.

We are going into Lent, and we have some wonderful things coming up for your spiritual enrichment. We're going to be having stations of the cross followed by a simple supper immediately after. Now the first one will be Friday, this Friday, March 7, at Saint Anne in Hull, and then we'll do it the following week at Saint Anthony in Cohasset, March Fourteenth. Again, both evenings, 6PM stations followed by a simple supper.

As Catholics, we have a wonderful opportunity to come into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, and we do that through adoration. And we're going to be having, at both parishes, Eucharistic exposition, adoration, and benediction. Adoration is so wonderful because it gives us a chance you might think of it as a sacred pause. It's time to slow down, to come into the presence of Jesus and listen to the voice of the Lord and align our hearts with him. So we had to get away from the busyness of the world.

So we hope you will take advantage of this. We're gonna have, there'll be priests available for the sacrament of reconciliation. So the first one is going to be March 10 in Hull and March 17 in Cohasset, Eucharistic exposition, adoration, and benediction. Now there's also gonna be twenty four hours of Eucharistic adoration and confessions at our regional jubileer site. This is at Saint Paul Church, one forty seven North Street in Hingham.

That's gonna be 9AM, Friday, March twenty eighth, for twenty four hours until 9AM the following morning on Saturday. Well, the corporal works of mercy remind us it's our responsibility to feed the hungry. And as we're going into Lent, here's a wonderful way for you to participate in our Take Out Hunger in Hunger New England project. There's two things you can do. You can support the project financially, and that will be underwriting the purchase of food that we will pack on April 13.

Of course, the amount of money raised is gonna depend on how much food we'll be able to provide. Second, you can sign up to be one of the people to pack the food on April 13. It's a wonderful service opportunity for individuals and families of all ages as we unite in solidarity to help the hungry. Now if there's anybody 13 that's gonna come, you should be accompanied by an adult. One more announcement.

We're going to have a six session small faith sharing group during this jubilee year, Lent. We're gonna be starting the week of March 9. Every group is gonna meet weekly for prayer, faith sharing, and community inspired by pope Francis's letter, hope does not disappoint. It's a wonderful way to come together during this jubilee year. And you can find a copy of the different groups and what days and times they meet in the bulletin and on our website.

Well, now that we're in the month of March, let's talk about Saint Joseph. You know, the month of March is dedicated to Saint Joseph in the Catholic church. Of course, he's the husband of the blessed Virgin Mary and the foster father of Jesus. And he's a man worth looking up to, especially for guys today. Saint Joseph shows us what it means to be strong, faithful, and good.

Now Now Saint Joseph wasn't rich or famous. He was a simple carpenter, a hard worker who used his hands to provide for his family. He protected Mary and Jesus even when it meant leaving everything behind to keep them safe. He didn't complain or brag. He just did what was needed to be done.

That's an example of real strength, stepping up for the people you love even when it's tough. Saint Joseph is a great example to remind us to be steady, dependable, and faithful. Pope Francis admires Saint Joseph so much that he made sure that Saint Joseph's name got added to the Eucharistic prayers, you know, the prayer that the priests say during the consecration of mass. Now Pope Francis did this because he wanted us to remember Saint Joseph's quiet, powerful role in God's plan. It's the church gently reminding us, don't forget about Saint Joseph.

He's a pretty big deal in the church. Over the years, several popes have written about Saint Joseph. We can go back to 1889 when pope Leo the thirteenth wrote an encyclical calling Saint Joseph a protector of the church and a model for workers and fathers. In 2021, pope Francis wrote With a Father's Heart to celebrate a hundred fifty years since Saint Joseph was named patron of the universal church. Pope Francis used an interesting phrase.

He called him a father in the shadows, someone who did not seek attention, but loved and served with his whole heart. Now in both these examples, popes are writing about Saint Joseph almost two thousand years after he lived. He's still very relevant to our lives today. You know what's interesting? Saint Joseph never says a single word in the gospels, not one.

But his actions, they are loud and clear. When the angel told him in a dream that Mary's baby was from God, he didn't argue. He didn't doubt. He didn't ask 50 questions. He trusted God and took Mary as his wife even though people might have gossiped about her pregnancy.

Later, when the angel warned him to flee to Egypt because King Herod wanted to kill Jesus, Joseph didn't hesitate. He got up that night and took his family to safety. His obedience saved the savior of the world. Saint Joseph teaches us that you don't need words to show faith. Your choices, your actions can say it all.

Saint Joseph had many amazing qualities. He was just, a good and honest man who followed god's law. He was humble, never putting himself first. He was brave, facing danger to protect his family. And he was faithful, trusting God even when things didn't make sense.

These virtues make him a saint, and we can all try to copy them, especially men who are charged with leading their families. The last time we see Saint Joseph in the gospels is in Luke chapter two when Jesus is 12 years old. Mary and Joseph take him to Jerusalem for a feast. But on the way home, they realize that Jesus is missing. They search for three days.

Imagine how worried they were. Finally, they find him in the temple talking with the teachers. Joseph doesn't say anything here either, but you can feel his steady presence, supporting Mary and trusting god. After this, the gospels don't mention him again. So many think he might have passed away before Jesus grew up and started his ministry.

But even in his last scene, he's quietly doing his job, raising Jesus and keeping the family together. Let us pray. Saint Joseph, teach us to trust God, protect our loved ones, and live in faith, and pray for us so we can follow your example every day. Amen.