St. Joseph’s Day
Rooted Tree, Vivien Lee (2025).
“When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took his wife into his home.” – Matthew 1:24
What is most striking about St Joseph’s response is its immediacy. No hesitation, no conditions, no sleepy-eyed negotiations—only pure, unwavering cooperation. He recognized the Lord’s hand in the matter and acted to protect Mary in an honorable manner by taking her as his wife.
St Joseph’s profound obedience flowed from an intimate trust in God’s plan. He was not only aware of God’s presence but attuned to it, recognizing the divine prompting and embracing God’s will without resistance. He must have had an intimate relationship with God that helped him listen attentively, read God’s signals right, and to sense God’s desires for him.
But how did he hone this spirit of docility?
Sitting in the park pondering this, the distinctive appearance of the Banyan Tree provided an insight. It is a beautiful tree which sends its roots down to smother their hosts that grow into stout, branch-supporting pillars resembling new tree trunks. Its deep and unshakable grip on the earth is what allows it to thrive and reach upward.
This image reminded me of Joseph—deeply rooted in Scripture, drawing strength from it, and looking heavenward in faith rather than fear. He must have held in his heart the prophecy: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel”—a truth that shaped his faith and response to God. This verse from Matthew 1:23, omitted in today’s Gospel selection, is a reference to Isaiah 7:14 which Joseph must have known well as a pious Jew.
Let us be rooted in the Word, as St. Joseph was, so that it may be firmly planted in our hearts and bear fruit in time. By clinging to the Word, we can fine-tune our hearts to perceive God’s presence and action with greater sensitivity, even in moments of doubt and confusion.
Lent invites us to re-examine our relationship with the Lord. St. Joseph’s radical trust speaks of how he was more than the spouse of Mary. He courageously accepted God’s invitation to partake of His plans because he was wedded to God. He shows us what the bond of love requires.
May we rise each day with the same willing heart as St. Joseph, firmly rooted in faith, ready to grow and flourish in obedience to God’s call. Then, when we renew our baptismal vows at Easter, they will not just be words, but wholehearted declarations of hope, love, and fidelity to our Lord.
Vivien Lee is a Singapore-born, multi-passionate creative who finds joy in writing,
bookbinding, and painting. Her most fulfilling experience of creating for the Lord has
been her recently published book, The Way of the Cross with St Joseph: A Virtues-
based Personal Devotion for Healing and Reconciliation, which features fifteen of her
paintings.
You can learn more about her here.