Hello, and peace to you today. This is CH (MAJ) Patty Jenkins with the 63d Readiness Division.
Message
The lens of the Covid-19 pandemic has helped us see more clearly the importance of “ordinary” people who exercise patience and offer hope every day. The labor of sanitation workers at hospitals, grocery store cashiers, post office clerks, and delivery people did not used to inspire much appreciation (or pay). But we see them now. Much is made of the Three Wise One’s expensive gifts to the vulnerable infant Jesus, but the “lowly” shepherds got there first.
In their quiet invisibility, these workers resemble Saint Joseph, “the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence,” who nonetheless played “an incomparable role in the history of salvation.” This is why, late last year, Pope Francis named 08 December 2020 to 08 December 2021 as the year of Saint Joseph.
The Vatican News reports, “The Bridegroom of Mary is also the one who, trusting in the Lord, accepts in his life even the events that he does not understand, “setting aside his own ideas” and reconciling himself with his own history.”
Joseph reconciled himself with his own history. What could that mean? With trust in God as his grounding base, Joseph was able to embrace himself and the dangers and challenges of his life, exchanging resentment for glad humility. Instead of distancing himself from his wife and child as if their care were a duty to be performed, he embraced them and their lives too. Instead of hiding in his work, he found a way to support and be with his growing family. We know precious little about Joseph; we can only trust that Mary and Jesus were able to fulfill God’s call on their lives with help from this man.
Read more at:
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-12/pope-francis-proclaims-year-of-st-joseph.html
Here is the direct email and phone number for anyone requesting support From the 63d RD Chaplain office,
usarmy.usarc.63-rsc.list.chaplain-all-users@mail.mil
650-526-9668