Rome, 19 March 2020
“How could it be, this baby in my arms, sleeping now so peacefully…the Son of God … Lord, I know He is not my own Son, not of my flesh, not of my bone… Still Father, let this baby be the Son of my love …” (Michael Card)
We can imagine the look of tenderness on Saint Joseph\´s face while holding the baby Jesus, the admiration and love that invaded his heart while looking at his beautiful face. We can imagine Joseph\´s compassionate look as he welcomed and accepted Mary, now pregnant with the son of God. We can imagine Joseph\´s reflection on the miracle of life, on the mystery of what the future had in store for him and his responsibility to contribute to the fulfillment of God\´s salvific plan. Only the tenderness of “a just man”, as mentioned in Matthew 1:19, would be able to give up all his personal plans and projects and take the risk of moving beyond those plans towards an unknown and even embarrassing future. All of St. Joseph\´s actions reveal his tender capacity to act guided by justice, morality, faith, and determination. Nothing is greater than the miracle of life!
How do we let ourselves be enchanted by life? How do we express tenderness? In caring for each other and planet earth, how do we help people recognize the miracle of life?
May the celebration of the Feast of our Patron Saint encourage us to be just and loving women and men!
Happy Feast of St. Joseph!
In gratitude for each of you and with our love,
Sr. Sally, Sr. Ieda, Sr. Mariaelena, Sr. Philo
