Vigils Reading – St Joseph

EVERYTHING HE DID

WAS DONE FOR GOD

From a sermon by Jacques Benigne Bossuet

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Among all the various vocations, I have noticed in Scripture two which

seem complete opposites: the first is that of the apostles; the second that of St.

Joseph. Jesus was revealed both to the apostles and to St Joseph, but for very

different reasons. He was revealed to the apostles so that they could proclaim

him to the whole world. He was revealed to Joseph so that he could remain

silent and conceal him.

The apostles were lights to make Jesus Christ visible to the whole world.

Joseph was a veil to hide him, and under this veil of mystery were hidden for us

the virginity of Mary and the greatness of the Savior. So we read in Scripture

that when people wished to belittle him they would say: Is he not Joseph’s son?

For the apostles then, Jesus was a Word to be proclaimed. Preach the message

of this gospel. For Joseph, however, Jesus was an unspoken word which was not

to be revealed.

See what the result is. The holy apostles proclaimed the word so loudly

that their word was re-echoed in the heavens, and St Paul dared to say that the

heavenly powers learned the counsels of the divine Wisdom through the

Church. On the other hand, when Joseph heard the marvels of Jesus Christ

spoke of, he listened, wondered, and kept silence.

What is the meaning of this difference? Is God at odds with Himself in

such contrasting vocations? No, you must not think so. All this diversity is

meant to teach God’s children the important truth that the whole of Christian

perfection lies simply in submission. He who glorified the apostles by conferring

on them the honorable duty of preaching, glorified Saint Joseph also by giving

him the humble duty of keeping silent. We should learn from this that true

Christian glory lies not in employments that win public acclaim, but in doing

God’s will.

If everyone cannot have the honor of preaching Jesus Christ, everyone

can have the honor of obeying him, and that is the glory of Saint Joseph, the

trustworthy honor of Christians. So do not ask me what Saint Joseph did in his

hidden life. I cannot possibly tell you. I can only reply the words of the Psalmist:

But what has the just man done? Usually the lives of sinners attract more

attention than those of good people because it is excitement and passion which

make a stir in the world. The sinners have drawn the bow, says David, they

have let fly at the righteous, destroyed, overthrown – he speaks only of worldly

people – for they have destroyed what you have made. He goes on. But what

has the just man done? He means that he has done nothing. Indeed he has done

nothing for people to see, because everything he did was done for God.

That is the way Saint Joseph lived. He saw Jesus Christ and remained

silent; he had experience of him but spoke no word. He did not share his glory

with others, but was satisfied with God alone. He fulfilled his vocation because,

just as the apostles were the ministers appointed to make Jesus Christ known,

so Joseph was his minister and companion in his hidden life.