|
Righteousness and Obedience |
 |
 |
 |
And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt
Matthew 2: 14
Probably known to most of you, I have a devotion to Mary. I have always believed that it was through her prayers that I was given the grace to turn my life to the Lord and repent of my ways. Years ago, as I was searching for the Lord, the pilgrim image of our Mother came to our parish. It was then, that I made a decision to turn my life to the Lord. And since then, it has been through her prayers that I was able to grow in my knowledge of the Lord.
In recent months, I find myself being drawn to the another person close to our Lords and his mothers heart - St. Joseph.
Matthew 1:19 describes Joseph as a just man - some translations call him a righteous man. In the three instances that he was instructed by the Lord, he never hesitated to obey - even if it would be a big discomfort for him.
First, he was told to take a pregnant woman for his wife and to raise the child in her womb as his own son. He obeyed without hesitation.
Second, he was told in a dream to bring the child and his mother to Egypt. He woke up and he immediately did as he was told - even if it was in the middle of the night. We have to consider what happened here. They were from Nazareth and they moved to Bethlehem because of the census. Now that they have settled in Bethlehem for about two years, He was asked to move. In those two years, he probably had settled down in the place, have his own business and knew some friends. But he did not hesitate to leave. He did not ask about his trade or how they would survive in a foreign land.
Third, he was told to bring back Jesus and Mary to the land of Israel. Again, he rose and took them back. There was no hesitation on his part to obey.
In all these situations, Joseph did not know what would happen. There were uncertainties, yet, we never read that he hesitated to obey.
Very often, God leads us to situations where there will be uncertainties and difficulties. Like Joseph, we have to trust and believe that if these are Gods work, we have to obey and do as we are told. Joseph knew that through all these uncertainties and difficulties, God will always be with them. And this is what makes a person righteous - his obedience to Gods will - because of his trust in the Lord.
Is God calling you to a deeper relationship with him? Then draw near to him. Are you in a situation that is humanly impossible to solve? Then trust in the Lord because nothing is impossible with God. Is the Lord calling you to move to another place? Then go without hesitation because he is always with you.
In these uncertainties, only Gods love is certain - and he will never, ever leave you nor forsake you.
Through all these, remember what St. Teresa of Avila said: we must be courageous in responding to Gods call - and must always be confident in God and never be confident in ourselves.
May the Lord, through the intercession of St. Joseph and Mary, give us to grace to trust in him and have confidence in him through our times of uncertainties and difficulties.
Amen.
|
