St. Joseph: A “Glass Act”

St. Joseph is a great example of obedience and action according to God’s will. As future deacons and priests, we will be called to imitate his faith and integrity. We will be called to bring Christ to the world. When we visited the Carmelite community in Bethlehem, this sacred mission captured my heart and mind more clearly. The convent safeguards certain relics of St. Mary of Jesus Crucified. Canonized just last May, this Palestinian saint lived in the middle of the 19th century. She founded the Carmel in Bethlehem in 1875.

High above the chapel floor, Joseph’s life with Mary and Jesus is told in multi-colored glass. Powerful images depict his betrothal to Mary, the angel’s calming message that Mary’s child is of the Holy Spirit, the holy couple registering for the census and the familiar scenes of the Nativity. The sequence of windows continues within the limestone arches until it reaches the end of Joseph’s journey. The final image is a vivid depiction of Joseph on his deathbed. At our death may we be able to look back on our lives and hear, like St. Joseph, “well done, good and faithful servant.” In many instances Joseph could not have known the rugged road ahead. Nevertheless, he pressed forward with trust and confidence in God’s plan for his life.

Of these 15 “keyholes” through which heaven’s light shines, a particular window moved me. The window points to our incredible task as future priests - leading God’s people to heaven. After being warned in a dream to flee to Egypt, Joseph is seen guiding the Holy Family to safety and teaching the young Jesus.

Today men often shy away from a life of belief and fail to commit to God’s will due to fear or lack of faith. The commitments we as seminarians will make are not out of duty but for love of Christ and His Church. Our vocation brings our lives identity and stability. It guides our actions. Ten years ago I would have laughed if someone told me that one day I would be a seminarian on pilgrimage in the Holy Land. We don’t know our future, but like Joseph, we need to attend to the Holy Spirit and trust that God will continue to lead us.

Soon our Third Theology class will be ordained deacons, and we will embrace the role of servant leader. Next year when ordained priests, we become spiritual fathers. In sacrament and prayer, we will bring the joy of Jesus to the world imitating Joseph in leading God’s people to safety.

The last stained-glass window depicts St. Joseph interceding for us from heaven. As seminarians we are confident that St. Joseph intercedes for us on our journey toward the priesthood. Please pray for an increase of seminarians for your diocese. St. Joseph, pray for us!