杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

杏MAP导航 Francis began a new cycle of catecheses on St Joseph at his weekly on Wednesday, explaining that 鈥渢oday, as never before, in this time marked by a global crisis,鈥� St Joseph can offer us 鈥渟upport, consolation, and guidance.鈥� As the year of St Joseph draws to a close, the 杏MAP导航 said he hoped his reflections might 鈥渇urther help us to allow ourselves to be enlightened by his example and by his witness.鈥�

A man full of faith

The Holy Father set the stage for his teaching with a reflection on the biblical context of the life of St Joseph. Recalling the figure of Joseph, the son of Jacob, in the Old Testament, 杏MAP导航 Francis noted that the name 鈥淛oseph鈥� 鈥� Hebrew for 鈥渕ay God increase, may God give growth鈥� 鈥� is 鈥渁 wish, a blessing based on trust in God鈥檚 providence and referring especially to fertility and raising children.鈥� This, he said, 鈥渞eveals an essential aspect of Joseph of Nazareth鈥檚 personality. He is a man full of faith in God, in His providence.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis went on to consider the places associated with St Joseph, especially Bethlehem and Nazareth, which 鈥渁ssume an important role in our understanding鈥� of the saint.

Bethlehem, he said, means 鈥渉ouse of bread鈥� or, in Arabic, 鈥渉ouse of meat,鈥� both expressions that are full of significances in light of the Incarnation and the Eucharist. Bethlehem also recalls the story of Ruth, the great grandmother of David the king, from whom Joseph traces his descent; as well as the prophecy of Micah, who foretold the coming of the Messiah from Bethlehem.

While Jerusalem was 鈥渢he city loved by the Lord, the 鈥榟oly city鈥�,鈥� it was Bethlehem and Nazareth, both outlying villages, 鈥渇ar from the clamour of the news and the powers of the time鈥� that are most associated with Saint Joseph. 鈥淭he choice of Bethlehem and Nazareth tells us that the periphery and marginality are preferred by God,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said. 鈥淔ailure to take this fact seriously is equivalent to not taking seriously the Gospel and the work of God.鈥�

Going to the peripheries

Jesus, the 杏MAP导航 emphasized, goes out especially in search of those on the peripheries, not only sinners, but also 鈥渢hose who have done no evil but have suffered it: the sick, the hungry, the poor, the least.鈥�

Now, as then, the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渢here is a centre and a periphery鈥� in society; and, as in the time of Jesus, 鈥渢he Church knows that she is called to proclaim the good news from the periphery.鈥� Here St Joseph can be an example, reminding each of us to accord special importance 鈥渢o what others cast aside.鈥� In this sense, the 杏MAP导航 said, St Joseph 鈥渋s truly a master of the essential: he reminds us that what truly matters does not attract our attention, but requires patient discernment to be discovered and appreciated.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis asked us to pray for Joseph鈥檚 intercession, 鈥渢hat the whole Church might recover this insight,鈥� adding, 鈥淟et us start again from Bethlehem, let us start again from Nazareth.鈥�

And to all those living on the geographical or existential peripheries, the 杏MAP导航 had this message: 鈥淢ay you find in Saint Joseph the witness and protector to whom you can look.鈥�

Prayer to St Joseph

Concluding his catechesis, 杏MAP导航 Francis offered the following prayer to St Joseph:

Saint Joseph,
you who always trusted God,
and made your choices
guided by His providence
teach us not to count so much on our own plans
but on His plan of love.

You who come from the peripheries
help us to convert our gaze
and to prefer what the world discards and marginalises.

Comfort those who feel alone
and support those who work silently
to defend life and human dignity. Amen.