The Yes That Leads to Life

By this point, many of us are struggling with or have given up on our Lenten fast. Perseverance is hard and we feel it. Did you know that two great feast days hidden in Lent offer us a chance to celebrate? The first is on March 19th: the feast of St. Joseph. A quiet figure in Scripture, Joseph trusted God’s Will in life’s biggest decisions. He said “yes” to marrying Mary; to becoming the foster father to the Messiah; and to fleeing into Egypt. Every “yes” meant a step in salvation for Joseph personally and for us all. In every “yes”, he let go of how he imagined his life should be and instead made room for God’s Plan. Though deeply challenging, Joseph could surrender because he knew that God was good and trustworthy. A saint who understands what it means to accept God’s plan without knowing future outcomes, St. Joseph is on our side, ready to love and assist us.

The second feast is on March 25th, the Annunciation, when Mary said “yes” to God to bearing His Son and being His mother. Mary and Joseph’s “yes” foreshadowed Jesus’ loving obedience to his Father’s Will. Joseph and Mary are real people who took the risk of saying “yes” to God not knowing what shape their lives would take. The result was eternal salvation for the world and themselves. As we persevere in Lent, these feasts remind us that when we are willing to surrender any part of our lives to God, we will enjoy abundant life right there.

Mary, and Joseph, thank you! Bless us with the courage to make room in our hearts and lives for God. Help and protect us, guiding us home to an everlasting Easter.