this is St. Joseph…he is one of my favorites

The Modern Saints by Gracie | Home | themodernsaints: Humility

The Psalm (51) today begins with the refrain: “A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.” If you are along on this Lenten journey with me because you have a loved one in the LGBTQ community, then you are familiar with humility. When someone you love trusts you by revealing to you who they truly are, it is a moment of great humility. They trust you enough to tell you, “This is who I am!” It is an honor when someone comes out to you. It takes a great deal of courage. They do not know, until we react, if they will be accepted or not.

One parent told me, “It sure is hard on a parent when a child turns out to be gay.” And I won’t lie, it is something that needs to be grappled with. But it is hardest on the person coming out. They have been living in isolation, fearing how the people they love will respond to them. As difficult as it might be, the parent must shed the expectations and dreams they have had for this child and put new ones in their place. It is humbling to change our perspective, to rechart a course. When I was sorting things out after my son first came out, I thought a lot about St. Joseph.

St. Joseph is a man familiar with humility. Certainly he had a plan in mind when he became betrothed to Mary. Most likely it did not include marrying her while she carried God’s child, or fleeing to Egypt because a King was trying to kill him, or running around Jerusalem frantically looking for Jesus when he was twelve years old. Can you imagine the pressure of raising God’s son? Talk about changing perspectives and charting a different course. St. Joseph is our go-to saint when it comes to keeping ourselves in the proper frame of mind when learning to love our kids as they are.

The second stanza in today’s psalm opines:

“A clean heart create for me, O God,

and a steadfast spirit renew within me.

Cast me not out from your presence,

and your Holy Spirit take not from me.”

This is a repeat of the Psalm that was read at Sunday mass. Repetition is never an accident, we need to hear it and pray with it.

St. Joseph, this Lent help me to take courage from your example of parental love for Jesus. Help me on my way as I learn to accept the people in my life. Make me gracious, loving and kind. Give me courage as I change my dreams.

Amen