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The Obedience of St. Joseph and the Blessed Mother of God
“An angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: ‘Arise, and take the Child and His Mother and fly into Egypt’” (Matt. 2, 13).
First Prelude: Imagine the Holy Family starting out on their perilous journey in the middle of the night.
Second Prelude: Grant me grace, O Jesus, to understand the perfection of the obedience of St. Joseph and the Blessed Mother of God in this mystery, that I may zealously imitate their example.
First Point — The Obedience of the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph is Prompt and Ready
Having received the divine command through an angel, Joseph and Mary, without tarrying in the least, make preparations for the journey; they allow no time to elapse between the command and its execution. What ready obedience! So perfect is the submission of Joseph and Mary, that they ask no questions, raise no objections, though, undoubtedly, the command must have seemed somewhat singular and difficult of execution. Trusting in Divine Providence, they are convinced that there is nothing better or more meritorious than to do the Will of God, in all places and circumstances.
Joseph, further, executes the command promptly, in all particulars, according to the angel’s bidding, as the evangelist expressly states: “Arise, take the Child and His Mother and fly into Egypt,” the angel had said to Joseph: “and he arose, took the Child and His Mother . . . and retired into Egypt” (Matt. 2, 13-14). Let us dwell for a moment on this beautiful example of perfect obedience!
What a sublime example of the religious obedience I have vowed! How often, alas, has my submission been wholly unlike the submission of Joseph and Mary! How imperfect is my obedience when my superiors enjoin something contrary to nature! Do I not raise objections, even give way to murmurs and complaints? Have I not, occasionally, deferred the execution of a more difficult order, or discharged it reluctantly, giving vent to complaints and murmurs? How much is there still defective in my obedience! True obedience, like that of Joseph and Mary, must rest on the foundation of an invincible faith, a firm hope and perfect love. Faith teaches me to recognize the holy Will of God in the dictates of my superiors, through whom God would guide me on the path of perfection. Hope keeps alive in my breast the spirit of genuine humility and submission, by holding out to me a rich heavenly recompense for everything done in virtue of obedience. Finally, perfect love must be the main-spring of obedience, for it alone can effect the immolation of what is dearest to us, our own free will. In imitation of the sublime example set us by Joseph and Mary, let us sacrifice, irrevocably, our free will, our inclinations and our comforts.
Second Point — Mary and Joseph Obey Courageously and Conquer All Obstacles
Considering the obstacles that opposed the execution of the divine command, must we not marvel at the wonderful obedience of Joseph and Mary in the flight to Egypt? In the middle of the night, they must undertake a most dangerous journey without the slightest preparation. Their way led through an inhospitable wilderness; they had to bear the inclemency of the weather, the hard-heartedness of men, lack of the very necessaries of life, and many other hardships. They must fly into Egypt, among a heathen people, enemies of the Jews, and there live in seclusion, suffering the greatest poverty and privations. As a further test, they were to remain in exile until the angel of the Lord would summon them back, for which summons, however, no time had been marked. What a trial! Has the obedience of a religious ever similar difficulties to overcome? Joseph and Mary do not examine the reasons why God acts in such a manner. They are convinced that He will provide for them, if they but execute His divine command. The thought that they were suffering such hardships to save the life of the Divine Child, was for Joseph and Mary a source of the sweetest consolation, and fortified them in the most bitter trials.
Oh, if in the trials that obedience entails upon us, we should always bear in mind that we labor for God alone and for love of Him, that He will requite most generously every cross borne for love of Him, we, too, could exclaim with the Apostle: “I can do all things in Him Who strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4, 13). When actuated by the spirit of love, we find all our duties easy and sweet, and as we read in Holy Scripture, feel capable of achieving any victory in obedience. Without love, however, even the least trial seems to us an unbearable yoke. O Mary, O Joseph, obtain for us grace to imitate your perfect obedience and self-renunciation. Entreat for us a tender and ardent love of God, so that the trials that come over us may be a source of new graces.
Affections: I thank Thee, O Jesus, for the wonderful example of perfect obedience Thou gavest me in Thy holy Mother and Thy foster-father. How little have I imitated them in the past, in the exercise of the most important virtue of religious life! Alas, self-love has often blinded me to such an extent that I obeyed Thy representatives reluctantly, especially when their injunctions imposed a sacrifice. O my Jesus! With all my heart, I repent of my want of lively faith, which often has induced me to investigate the directions of my superiors. I repent of my negligence and tepid love, which caused self-restraint and the immolation of my own free will to appear so difficult. Henceforth it shall be my earnest endeavor, with the assistance of Thy grace, to fulfill Thy holy Will perfectly, submitting cheerfully to the guidance of those that hold Thy place in my regard. O Mary, O Joseph, obtain for me the grace to imitate your promptness, simplicity and self-immolation, in the accomplishment of the holy Will of God.
Resolution: With childlike simplicity I will be docile to my superiors for the love of God.
Spiritual Bouquet. “Behold, O my God, I am ready to do Thy will.”
Prayer: Take, O Lord . . .
“An angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: ‘Arise, and take the Child and His Mother and fly into Egypt’” (Matt. 2, 13).
First Prelude: Imagine the Holy Family starting out on their perilous journey in the middle of the night.
Second Prelude: Grant me grace, O Jesus, to understand the perfection of the obedience of St. Joseph and the Blessed Mother of God in this mystery, that I may zealously imitate their example.
First Point — The Obedience of the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph is Prompt and Ready
Having received the divine command through an angel, Joseph and Mary, without tarrying in the least, make preparations for the journey; they allow no time to elapse between the command and its execution. What ready obedience! So perfect is the submission of Joseph and Mary, that they ask no questions, raise no objections, though, undoubtedly, the command must have seemed somewhat singular and difficult of execution. Trusting in Divine Providence, they are convinced that there is nothing better or more meritorious than to do the Will of God, in all places and circumstances.
Joseph, further, executes the command promptly, in all particulars, according to the angel’s bidding, as the evangelist expressly states: “Arise, take the Child and His Mother and fly into Egypt,” the angel had said to Joseph: “and he arose, took the Child and His Mother . . . and retired into Egypt” (Matt. 2, 13-14). Let us dwell for a moment on this beautiful example of perfect obedience!
What a sublime example of the religious obedience I have vowed! How often, alas, has my submission been wholly unlike the submission of Joseph and Mary! How imperfect is my obedience when my superiors enjoin something contrary to nature! Do I not raise objections, even give way to murmurs and complaints? Have I not, occasionally, deferred the execution of a more difficult order, or discharged it reluctantly, giving vent to complaints and murmurs? How much is there still defective in my obedience! True obedience, like that of Joseph and Mary, must rest on the foundation of an invincible faith, a firm hope and perfect love. Faith teaches me to recognize the holy Will of God in the dictates of my superiors, through whom God would guide me on the path of perfection. Hope keeps alive in my breast the spirit of genuine humility and submission, by holding out to me a rich heavenly recompense for everything done in virtue of obedience. Finally, perfect love must be the main-spring of obedience, for it alone can effect the immolation of what is dearest to us, our own free will. In imitation of the sublime example set us by Joseph and Mary, let us sacrifice, irrevocably, our free will, our inclinations and our comforts.
Second Point — Mary and Joseph Obey Courageously and Conquer All Obstacles
Considering the obstacles that opposed the execution of the divine command, must we not marvel at the wonderful obedience of Joseph and Mary in the flight to Egypt? In the middle of the night, they must undertake a most dangerous journey without the slightest preparation. Their way led through an inhospitable wilderness; they had to bear the inclemency of the weather, the hard-heartedness of men, lack of the very necessaries of life, and many other hardships. They must fly into Egypt, among a heathen people, enemies of the Jews, and there live in seclusion, suffering the greatest poverty and privations. As a further test, they were to remain in exile until the angel of the Lord would summon them back, for which summons, however, no time had been marked. What a trial! Has the obedience of a religious ever similar difficulties to overcome? Joseph and Mary do not examine the reasons why God acts in such a manner. They are convinced that He will provide for them, if they but execute His divine command. The thought that they were suffering such hardships to save the life of the Divine Child, was for Joseph and Mary a source of the sweetest consolation, and fortified them in the most bitter trials.
Oh, if in the trials that obedience entails upon us, we should always bear in mind that we labor for God alone and for love of Him, that He will requite most generously every cross borne for love of Him, we, too, could exclaim with the Apostle: “I can do all things in Him Who strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4, 13). When actuated by the spirit of love, we find all our duties easy and sweet, and as we read in Holy Scripture, feel capable of achieving any victory in obedience. Without love, however, even the least trial seems to us an unbearable yoke. O Mary, O Joseph, obtain for us grace to imitate your perfect obedience and self-renunciation. Entreat for us a tender and ardent love of God, so that the trials that come over us may be a source of new graces.
Affections: I thank Thee, O Jesus, for the wonderful example of perfect obedience Thou gavest me in Thy holy Mother and Thy foster-father. How little have I imitated them in the past, in the exercise of the most important virtue of religious life! Alas, self-love has often blinded me to such an extent that I obeyed Thy representatives reluctantly, especially when their injunctions imposed a sacrifice. O my Jesus! With all my heart, I repent of my want of lively faith, which often has induced me to investigate the directions of my superiors. I repent of my negligence and tepid love, which caused self-restraint and the immolation of my own free will to appear so difficult. Henceforth it shall be my earnest endeavor, with the assistance of Thy grace, to fulfill Thy holy Will perfectly, submitting cheerfully to the guidance of those that hold Thy place in my regard. O Mary, O Joseph, obtain for me the grace to imitate your promptness, simplicity and self-immolation, in the accomplishment of the holy Will of God.
Resolution: With childlike simplicity I will be docile to my superiors for the love of God.
Spiritual Bouquet. “Behold, O my God, I am ready to do Thy will.”
Prayer: Take, O Lord . . .
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