4th Sunday of Advent Sharing secrets St Joseph was not only a just man – he was kind. He could have had the full force of the Law unleashed against Mary. By falling pregnant she looked like an adulteress and stoning was the punishment for adultery. But what Joseph did was the ‘least harmful’ that he could do in the situation. He decided to divorce her in the kindest way possible, the way that would least give her shame. He did not know what had happened but he chose to think the best of her. To such a man God could reveal his secrets. Because his heart was kind, God told him of the enormous kindness of the coming of the Saviour through Mary. Such a secret could not have been announced in the streets because people wouldn’t have known what to make of it. But Joseph kind in heart, mind and deed could grasp some intimation of what God was about and become an integral part of the revelation of God’s love. Whether secrets should be revealed is the question many of us are discussing at present. As Wikileaks continues to pour forth a torrent of information, we may be discussing whether they should, but perhaps the real questions should be about the motives - of all of us. Why are ‘the authorities’ so paranoid (is it security or reputation they are concerned about?) Why are the ‘leakers’ so confident about their release of this material (it could build up good governance or it could destroy due process?) and ourselves, why are we so interested (do we want to see the mighty fall or want to acquire better knowledge to act as good citizens.) Even in the area of the public arena we need to have kind hearts as well as hard heads. I wonder how St Joseph would have dealt with these secrets.
Sr Kym Harris OSB |