The world and its history always search after the victorious deeds of people and the fame of names. But how does the silence make a man in the history renowned and fortune? St. Joseph has divulged the divine secret in unveiling the silence. He is the only prominent figure who stuck the history of humanity with his grace of silence by opening the door for the mystery of Incarnation. God manifests himself in the moment of silence. God spoke to Joseph and he listened to God in silence. Pope Francis would confirm that Joseph’s silence is not a mutism or taciturn but it is a humble submission and confirmation of the readiness for the divine call. It is an offering with full of listening. “the Father spoke a word and it was his Son”, writes St. John of the Cross. The mystery of God invariably manifests in eternal silence. There is no wonder why Jesus loved the lonely place and spaces of silence. Because, he was brought up in the ‘school of the house of Nazareth’ with the daily examples of Joseph and Mary. It might have been the reason that Joseph disappears from the scriptural scenes silently after the story of Christ’s birth and Passover in Jerusalem at age of twelve. 
Silence is not only a buffer zone but it frightens and challenges. The scripture does not utter a single word by St. Joseph of Nazareth, the humble carpenter. It might have been difficult for him to be the protector of the Word of God but even then, being a ‘just’ man, God makes him to say ‘yes’ to the eternal plan to be Mary’s husband and foster father of Jesus. In this sense, the salvific history is incomplete without the account of the ‘shield’ of the holy family.
Even in his darkest hours and midst of trials, after learning of Mary’s pregnancy, Joseph remained to be man of character. He himself did not fully understand the circumstances surrounding Christ’s conception and birth. But he was able to love what he did not fully understand. His sanctity and faith revealed in this love. The fullness of faith that bears in his heart combined in silence with action. He did not speak but demonstrated what Jesus once told his disciples, ““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Mt: 7/21). It is a virtue that acquired and fostered in his heart with humility that prompts him quietly draw back and silently obey the will of God. A vocation, completely in silence!
George Sinesh Karuppalyil SJ
