The hands and feet of our Savior

19Mar
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
 ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
   and they shall name him Emmanuel’,
which means, ‘God is with us.’ When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
-the hands and feet of our Savior


Today is the Feast of Saint Joseph. Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, is often called “the Guardian of our Lord.” He was a descendant of King David and worked as a carpenter by trade. Not much is known about his craft, although the early church historian Justin Martyr once claimed to have seen “plows and ox-yokes” still in use that had been made in a carpenter’s shop in Nazareth.


Joseph’s story remains something of a mystery for the Church. He was present at Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, helped lead his family in their escape to Egypt, and stood beside Mary at Jesus’ presentation in the Temple. The last time we hear of Joseph is when he and Mary search for the twelve-year-old Jesus after he remained behind in Jerusalem. The eighteen years that follow are largely silent in the Gospel accounts, and by the time of the wedding feast at Cana, Joseph is no longer mentioned. Many believe he died of natural causes sometime between Jesus’ twelfth and thirtieth years.


Joseph stands as a testament to the quiet importance of ordinary people faithfully caring for their families. There is something sacred in the unfinished nature of his story. It draws our attention to the values of integrity, humility, and service.


Ordinary people like you and me are the true foundation of the Church. It can be easy to look at the famous saints of our tradition and feel inadequate by comparison. Yet the names we know are far fewer than the countless unnamed people who keep the Gospel alive through their daily lives. They live ordinary lives, yet leave faithful marks on the Church along the way.


The Feast of Saint Joseph invites us to celebrate the ordinary life of the Church. It encourages us to live the life God has given us, rather than trying simply to copy the lives of saints from long ago. May we find ways to be faithful to the Gospel in our own communities. May we protect the vulnerable, reflect the message of Christ, and seek opportunities to be the hands and feet of our Savior.


Musical Reflection - Gregorian Chant to St. Joseph - Harpa Dei


O God, who from the family of your servant David raised up Joseph to be the guardian of your incarnate Son and the spouse of his virgin mother: Give us grace to imitate his uprightness of life and his obedience to your commands; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Saints

Posted by The Reverend Robert B. Hadzor

Bobby has served as the chaplain of Trinity Episcopal School since 2012 and as an Assisting Priest of Trinity Episcopal Church since 2018. He grew up in Dallas, Pennsylvania before moving to Franklin, Tennessee as a teenager. He attended Belmont University in Nashville where he graduated (2007) with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion with a minor in Philosophy.

Bobby attended Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina where he graduated (2010) with a Masters of Divinity and an Anglican Studies Certificate from Duke Divinity’s Anglican House of Studies. During his time in seminary, he joined the Episcopal Church and was confirmed (2009) at St. Joseph's Episcopal in Durham, North Carolina by then Bishop of North Carolina, The Most Reverend Michael B. Curry.

Following his work in seminary, Bobby moved to Boston where he worked for the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. He spent a year working with the interfaith communities throughout the greater Boston area and raised awareness on topics pertaining to social justice issues. He was a faithful member of Boston's "Common Cathedral", an outdoor church that met in the Boston Common and served those experiencing homelessness in the city.

In 2011, Bobby moved to New Orleans and undertook a year of Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE Certification) at East Jefferson General Hospital. While serving at EJGH, he became a member of Trinity Episcopal Church. In 2012, he began his Discernment for Ordained Ministry in the Diocese of Louisiana. In 2014, Bobby joined St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Metairie where he continued his spiritual growth and discernment process under the mentorship of The Very Reverend A.J. Heine, Jr.

Bobby was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons on May 17, 2017, at St. Augustine’s. Later that year, Bobby was ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests at Trinity Episcopal Church during a special school-day service that included the entire student body of Trinity Episcopal School.

Bobby married his wife Julie on January 6, 2018, at Christ Church Cathedral in New Orleans. Julie currently works for Tulane University’s Campus Planning Office. Bobby and Julie are avid travelers and are frequently planning, or preparing, for their next adventure in the world. They have made their home in New Orleans and enjoy participating in the numerous events of the city, including their favorite event of the year, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

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