“This holy man [St. Joseph] had such towering dignity and glory that the Eternal Father most generously bestowed on him a likeness of his own primacy.” — St. Bernardine of Siena
Good evening Lord.
We are back in Nazareth. We stayed in Ein Kerem until baby John was circumcised, but two days later, we departed. While I was mounting on the donkey our few possessions and the food that we would take on our journey, Zacharias approached me. “Blessed are you,” he said, “who God in His infinite mercy has chosen you as the protector of His Mother. Be mindful of her, as you lead her through this exile to the security of the eternal peace which we hope for.” Zacharias then gave me a blessing, and we departed for Nazareth.
The first part of our journey, we were on our own, but I felt an invisible presence accompanying us, almost as if angels were with us. This time alone with Mary, gave me time to converse with her. We spoke about what had been happening in Nazareth while she was gone, and about the preparations for our wedding. I told her that everyone was very excited about the upcoming nuptials, which would take place in less than two months. We also spoke about deeper subjects of our faith. We talked about the salvation of souls and the mercies of the Lord, of the coming of the Redeemer, of the prophecies given to the ancient Fathers concerning Him, and of other mysteries and sacraments of the Most High.
When we reached Jerusalem, we joined a caravan that was traveling towards Nazareth, since it would not be safe for just the two of us to travel alone. We spent one night in Jerusalem, and the next morning, we were on our way with a group of twenty-one travelers made up of men, women, and children.
The return trip was much easier than the journey from Nazareth to Ein Kerem. We did not encounter any bandits in our path, nor any sandstorms. The worst part of the journey was the heat. We were already at the peak of summer, and it was excruciatingly hot when we were crossing the desert. I did everything in my power to lighten Mary’s discomfort. She proceeded most of the way seated in the saddle of the humble beast that I had been able to provide her for the journey to Ein Kerem, and which she had kept with her.
It took us four days to return to Nazareth. And here I am now, pondering Zacharias’ words. I can hear the barking of dogs in the distance, while I sit outside in the heat of the evening twilight. Tonight, everything is still.
What did Zacharias mean when he said to me, “God has chosen you as the protector of His Mother?” I think that more than his speech was affected by the angel’s visit. I hope, for Elizabeth’s and John’s sake, that he is not losing his mind.
Mary seemed preoccupied on our return journey. Please, Lord, if something is bothering her, allow her to have the courage to tell me. Whatever is on her mind, we will figure it out together. Please enlighten me so I can help her to have the confidence to open up to me.
Good night, Lord. I have a busy day tomorrow. Thankfully, my clients waited for me, and I have more orders than I can keep up with.
Reflection:
St. Joseph had no idea of the treasure that he was guarding when he led Mary through the desert. In a way, Mary was like a monstrance, carrying the Blessed Eucharist within her. How important is the Blessed Eucharist in my life? Do I believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament? Or like St. Joseph, am I not aware of the treasure that is being guarded in the tabernacle? Let’s take some time during this Advent season to find the nearest church that offers Eucharistic Adoration, and go spend a few minutes visiting Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. One such church is Little Flower in Coral Gables. They have a chapel across the church that has the Eucharist exposed 24/07. And that’s the secret code to enter the chapel.
Copyright © 2024 Christy Romero. All rights reserved.
References:
- Luke 1:66
- Luke 1: 68-79
Resources from the following books are being used on this journey:
- The Mystical City of God: A Popular Abridgement of the Divine History and Live of the Virgin Mother of God by Venerable Mary of Agreda
- Consecration to St. Joseph by Fr. Donald H. Calloway
- Las Palabras Calladas: Diario de Maria de Nazaret by Pedro Miguel Lamet
All Bible references are from the New American Revised Edition Bible (NAREB) unless otherwise specified.
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