The Guardian's Dreams

Behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.' (Matthew 1:20) Modern psychological research shows that dreams help us adapt to certain situations in our lives. They can be helpful in finding strategies to solve significant problems. This was precisely the case with Saint Joseph, when, after his betrothal to Mary, he learned that she was pregnant through the Holy Spirit. In the Bible, we have many examples of God speaking to man through dreams, instructing him to perform certain tasks. This is a way for God to establish contact with man. In the Gospel account, we read about an angel of the Lord who appeared to Joseph in a dream and spoke to him. Because Saint Joseph had good contact with himself, he was able to immediately benefit from this dream. Saint John Chrysostom observes, 'The angel comes to Joseph in a dream to show his great faith. He did not need a waking vision, like many prophets, but his soul was so pure and open to divine inspirations that a revelation during sleep was sufficient.' It was this purity of soul that allowed Joseph to accept God's message without hesitation. Saint Augustine writes, 'In Joseph's dreams, God's pedagogy is revealed – the Creator speaks to him in a language that a righteous man, whose heart is ready to accept God's will, can understand. Joseph did not ask for signs or proofs, but humbly accepted the mission entrusted to him.' Father Józef Augustyn, a Jesuit, explains that one must be a good person to have good dreams. This is because dreams are also a reflection of our lives. Dreams should be approached positively. They should not be feared. Then we can benefit from them, as Saint Joseph did. He did not hesitate to take Mary, his wife, to himself. He was able to interpret his dreams correctly because his heart was pure, and his intentions towards his wife and her Child conceived by the Holy Spirit were also pure. Saint Jerome emphasizes this truth in his commentaries: 'Joseph understood dreams because he lived in truth. His daily obedience to the Law and righteousness before God prepared him to recognize God's voice even in the darkness of night and doubt.' Saint Ephrem the Syrian adds, 'Three times God spoke to Joseph through dreams: to take Mary as his wife, to flee to Egypt, and to return to the land of Israel. Each time, Joseph responded with immediate obedience, without questions or delay. This is an example of a soul that recognizes God's voice in silence.' Let us therefore pray for the inner purity of Saint Joseph, that the Lord God may use dreams directly in our lives as well. Let us ask for the grace to listen to God in all circumstances, including the most unexpected ones, as it happened in the life of the Guardian of the Holy Family. Amen.