St. Joseph, the man of silence and dreams of God

“St. Joseph teaches us the value of silence, trust in God and the audacity to dream. His life invites us to live with faith, to be custodians of the hearts of others and to become promoters of dreams that transform realities.” These words were pronounced by the Prior General of the Order, Fr. Miguel Angel Hernandez, during the Eucharist celebrated at the International College of St. Ildefonso of Via Sistina (Rome), in the framework of the First Encounter of the Augustinian Recollect Family.

Silence that listens and acts

In a world saturated with noise, St. Joseph appears as the man of silence, a virtue that today seems misunderstood and undervalued. “We do not have a single word from Joseph. Silence is a virtue little or not at all valued in our days.”

His silence is not passivity or indifference, but a silence that listens, meditates and is attentive to the voice of God. It is a fruitful silence that reminds us that talking less and listening more brings us closer to what is essential.

St. Joseph “believes without understanding and trusts the Word of God. He is the man respectful of the mystery, the man respectful of the person of Mary.” He accepts the mystery with humility and becomes the custodian of the greatest treasure of humanity: Jesus and Mary. His example invites us to be guardians of our brothers’ hearts, not only materially, but also spiritually. We are not called to be mere stewards, but living witnesses of God’s mercy and love.

A model of parenting and mediation

God chose St. Joseph as mediator in the life of Jesus. “Jesus learned to be who he is also with Joseph. God used Joseph to shape and sculpt the personality of Jesus.” If Jesus learned to put people before rules, it was undoubtedly because at home he heard over and over again the story of Joseph’s love for Mary, his ability to welcome her and protect her in spite of the difficulties. “From whom do you think Jesus learned to oppose the old law and put people ahead of rules?”

The Gospels tell us that Jesus became like us in everything but sin. Therefore, he, too, learned from his parents. “Joseph was key in the formation of Christ’s heart.”

Custodians of the hearts of others

The Prior General reminds us that we are all called to be custodians of a portion of people: in communities, congregations, families or responsibilities within the Church. “God has placed us in front of our brothers to be referents and so that our life and testimony point to God.” We are not here to be mere managers of an institution, but so that our lives may reflect the face of God to others.

Being custodians of the hearts of others implies being compassionate, merciful, devoted and patient. “We are not managers of a company, we are custodians of hearts that God has placed in our hands.” We are called to love everyone, even the most difficult. Like Joseph, we must exercise our mission with firmness, but without losing our tenderness.

Not administrators of fears, but promoters of dreams.

One of the most outstanding aspects of San José is its capacity to dream. “St. Joseph was a dreamer, but not a deluded man living outside reality.” It was through dreams that God revealed His will to him. But Joseph was not deluded. He was a down-to-earth man, with his feet on the ground, but with his heart open to God.

Pope Francis encourages us not to lose the ability to dream the future with confidence, without getting stuck in the past. “Let us not be stewards of fears, but promoters of dreams.” In our communities, in our families and in our own lives, we are called to build God’s dream with boldness and hope.

Like Joseph, let us put our trust in the Lord and work generously to make God’s dreams come true on Earth.