Depending on where you are on your Lenten journey you may answer this question in different ways. For some, Lent is just beginning and a rhythm of Lenten observances is taking root. For others, well, there is always next year!

Today's celebration of the Solemnity of St. Joseph is a moment of grace to advance us on our Lenten journey. St. Joseph, the husband of Mary, is the patronal feast of the Dominican Province of St. Joseph. Our beloved patron has guided the works of the Province for over two hundred years in the midst of many challenges and hardships in the same quiet way, his way, that he guided and protected the Holy Family.

How can the Guardian of the Holy Family be a model for us during these early days of Lent? St. Joseph shows us that in the midst of crisis and turmoil, God's will is accomplished through His grace that builds on the gift of a virtuous life rooted in silence.

We come across St. Joseph in the Gospel of Matthew in a rather awkward situation, to say the least. His wife, Mary, to whom he is betrothed, is found with child before they come to live together. They were in the second stage of a Jewish marriage at the time was just before the wife went to live with her husband. Nonetheless, it is a valid marriage and one that could only be broken by divorce. So, here is Joseph, having entered into a marriage contract, finding out that his virgin bride is now with child. Perhaps, the little town was brimming with gossip about Mary's "condition" since they were not privy to the annunciation. What would you do in such a case? Would peer pressure persuade you to act in one way or another? How would you clearly see your way through such muddy waters?

From the very beginning of the situation Joseph chose to act quietly behind the scenes and decisively for the good of Mary, her child, and her parents. Through his times of discernment in silence he is strengthened in a resolution for the good of all involved. This characteristic of Joseph's way resulted from his virtuous life in faith that has shaped his mind and heart to such an extent that he was known as a "just" man and the first person in the Gospel of Matthew to be called such.

It is from this stance that Joseph makes a decision about his new wife and her child. Well aware of his rights to have Mary stoned, he choose otherwise. Why? Perhaps, as a just man of faith he was also a man of mercy. He was not a man of pride who sought revenge for the shame brought upon him by the assumed infidelity of Mary. More so, this act of mercy demonstrates how much Joseph loved Mary, as well as his respect for her parents Sts. Joachim and Ann. Just think of the suffering and disgrace that would have fallen upon them. They would have to endure the unbearable suffering of the cruel death of their child and live with the shame of not being trustworthy because of the broken marriage contract.

It is in the midst of this tense moment of crisis, that a human solution, though benevolent, would not suffice. Something greater was at stake: the birth of the Messiah in the House of David and a Holy Family for the Son of God. Therefore, God intervened to build on the gift of faith He already had given to Joseph.

Remember, Scripture tells us, "and her husband, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to send her away quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him...(Matt 1:19-20)." Though Joseph was "resolved" to carry out his decision, he did not close his mind and heart to other possibilities as he continued to "consider" his solution. It is in this moment that God intervenes to enlighten the mind and heart of Joseph with the necessary information to make a decision that is in accord with God's plan. The revelation that Joseph received in a dream, the ancient vehicle for God's message, added new information that Joseph did not know. Such knowledge, known only by revelation, now changed his former decision and, indeed, his entire life.

In this, Joseph reminds of an aspect of discerning God's will in the midst of making a decision in times of crisis or at any time. Basically, it is to remain open to the promptings of God even when we think we have it all figured out.

Seeking God's will in our life necessarily entails setting time aside in silence to weigh was is before us while we give room for God to intervene and to enlighten us with what we do not see or with what we refuse to see. During this Lent, where is God seeking room in your matters of discernment? What "noise" in your life prevents you from hearing Him or noticing His presence?

Lent is always a time for us to reflect on our journey of holiness and how it is marked by love of God and love and neighbor. Yet, for us to make progress on this journey we need to reclaim the moments of silence in our lives away from the TVs, radios, computers, iPods, headphones, and so much more. We cannot discern God's will in our life if we cannot hear Him. Sounds simple but how much time do we give to silence in our day?

At first, finding time for silence is a challenge and very uncomfortable. Then, with time and having spent regular moments in silence, you miss the quiet times when you don't have them. Strengthening this habit for silence is a necessary part of the spiritual life for God comes to us more than once in our life or only when we prepare to receive the Sacraments for the first time. St. Joseph reminds us by his actions, that God speaks to us continually and it is for us to respond.

The underlying question in discernment always is: "How do we know if we are truly hearing God's Word in our moments of silence and just us trying to convince ourselves that we are going to make a decision for the good of all?"

One thing about God is that He is consistent. No message of His is contrary to Himself or to what He has revealed about Himself. We have as a guide the Scriptures and the teachings of the Church. If what we hear is contrary to these sure guides, then we need to clean our ears and listen more intently.

In each dream Joseph receives a message from God. These dreams are symbolic of our moments of silence as we patiently await God's message in our discernment of His will. As a man of virtue, each time Joseph receives a message from God in his dreams, he rises from slumber to act promptly, joyfully, and easily which are characteristics of an action flowing from the virtues

Taking a quick look at Joseph's responses to take Mary, her child, and, perhaps, the town gossip, into his otherwise quiet and uneventful home, we see that his actions fulfill the scriptural passage from the prophet Isaiah: "Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and his name shall be Emmanuel (God with us)." Likewise, by following the angel's message to journey into Egypt and the move to make a home in Nazareth, fulfills the prophet Hosea: "Out of Egypt I will call my son (Hosea 11:1)" and "so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazorean. (Matt 2:23)""

Successful discernment in our lives is when the Word of God and the teachings of the Church find fulfillment in our words and actions. They may bring us where we do not what to go - we each have our own Egypts we would rather not venture into. Fortunately, such places are only temporary and God will call us forth from them so we can find the place to make our home.

One of the great gifts given to St. Joseph was to name the Child Jesus. Joseph is remembered for his quiet and prompt responses to God's messages and not for what he said save following the angel's message to name the child of Mary, Jesus. The act of naming the Child makes Joseph the legal father of Jesus, now of the House of David. Joseph assumes full responsibility to protect and to provide for Mary and Jesus. In addition, by naming his Holy Child Jesus, he affirms Jesus' mission "to save his people from their sins."

Interestingly, one could say that Joseph "saved" Mary from the penalty of death of her perceived sin of infidelity by brought safely bring her and her child into his home in an act of sacrificial love. Jesus though his sacrificial love will save all peoples from their sin by standing silently before Pontius Pilate, enduring his passion and death, being raised by his Heavenly Father so that He will ensure a home is ready for all us because in His Father's house there are many rooms.

How fruitful is Lent for you?

The only way to know is by reclaiming regular moments of silence in your life and making room for God in your daily choices. If you are having difficulties, then pray for the intercession of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary, to show you his way.

We, the Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Joseph, can assure you that as St. Joseph protected and supported the Holy Family, he will do so for you and your family. He hasn't lost his touch.

St. Joseph, Husband of Mary, and Universal Patron of the Church, Pray for Us!

(The following is a poem by Madeliene L'Engle in Cry Like a Bell [1987] p.55)

O Sapientia

It was from Joseph first I learned
of love. Like me he was dismayed.
How easily he could have turned
me from his house; but, unafraid,
he put me not away from him
(O God-sent angel, pray for him).
Thus through his love was Love obeyed.

The Child's first cry came like a bell:
God's Word aloud, God's Word in deed.
The angel spoke: so it befell,
and Joseph with me in my need.
O Child whose father came from heaven,
To you another gift was given,
your earthly father chosen well.

With Joseph I was always warmed
and cherished. Even in the stable
I knew that I would not be harmed.
And, though above the angels swarmed,
man's love it was that made me able
to bear God's love, wild, formidable,
to bear God's will, through me performed.