“Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife and into your home.” – Mt 1:20
I like to be prepared, plan carefully, and anticipate every possible challenge. In my years as a Catholic school administrator, I have worked hard to chart a well-defined path forward, striving to provide solutions to every need that arises. Yet, no matter how diligently one prepares, life reminds us that we cannot control everything. Inevitably, there come moments when our best-laid plans fall short, and we are invited instead to place our trust in God’s providence.
In this week’s Gospel, Joseph faces one of the most uncertain moments of his life. Learning that Mary is with child, he struggles with what to do. Yet, in a dream, the angel assures him: “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife and into your home.” Joseph’s quiet but decisive “yes” was a courageous act of trust. His willingness to follow God’s call in the face of doubt, models the kind of humility we are called to live.
Theodore James Ryken, the founder of the Xaverian Brothers, once prayed: “O Lord, I cannot understand your ways, but I must adore them.” His words echo Joseph’s yes. They remind us that discipleship does not mean having all the answers but entrusting ourselves to God. Like Joseph, Ryken’s surrender to God should inspire us to walk forward in faith and humility, even when certainty is beyond our reach.
In today’s uncertain world, where lives might be filled with challenges, we may long for clarity and control. Yet it is important to remember that Advent invites us to practice patience and put our trust in God.
Lord, give us the courage of Joseph and the trust of Theodore Ryken, that even when we cannot understand your ways, we may adore them and find peace in knowing that You are with us.
Dr. Patrick Slattery