Selfless men built this nation…And Selfless men will restore it…..If we “fix the man” - We fix society

Today the Universal Church honors Saint Joseph…..I read a reflection this morning written by a French Dominican Priest (Fr Joseph-Marie Perrin)…This is what he said about St Joseph - “Poor, obedient, silent and hidden - the man whom God could trust”…..Let’s reflect on those words from Fr Perrin for a moment….Not exactly attributes people today aspire to emulate - “Poor, obedient, silent and hidden”…Yet the Universal Church has given great honor to St Joseph…He was the father and protector of the Savior of the world…Husband to Our Lady…And in Scripture not one word of his was recorded - Not one word! - St Joseph was a man of action…His life spoke for him…..As Americans we have the tendency to “complicate things”…Jesus, Mary and Joseph did the exact opposite of that - They simplified things….These three people for thirty years lived a hidden life and I would bet that their life for those thirty years while not easy, was full of peace….We live today in what many call the “selfie” generation…Everyone on social media is screaming…”Look at me”….St Joseph took another path…His life screamed…”Look at God - Forget about me”…..And because of that - God greatly honored him.

"I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant: Forever will I confirm your posterity and establish your throne for all generations."

The role of a husband and a father in the life of every family cannot be understated…..The driving reason why our nation is in disarray is because of the breakdown of the family - Period Full Stop!….And if we “fix the man”, we fix society…Men have forgotten what is means to be men - Sure, we see on full display men carry on as “tough guys” in real life and in movies…How about we start doing the hard things?…Like living self sacrificial lives….Jesus Christ “pour out” his life for the world….The role of a father is to do the exact same thing….And the example of a man who does that effects generations…This was the example of St Joseph……This must be our example as well….To live a hidden life…To do the “hard things”….To be obedient to God…….To live simply….I recently read something about a man who everyday watered the grass at the cemetery of his deceased wife’s grave whom he was married to for 65 years…This couple raised nine children…And everyday this man went to Mass in the morning and following the Mass, he went to the cemetery to care for his wife’s grave site…..This “type of man”….Committed, Consistent, God fearing, Devoted…..These are the men who built our nation - And they did it quietly…With no “fanfare”….They raised families…They paid the bills…They took their family to Mass…..They lead by example…..This is why America’s first priority is to “fix the man”…When you fix the man, the family follows…And when the family is strong again - Our nation will be strong again - And not before - It begins with the man!

“Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.”

St Joseph teaches us to keep it simple…The measure of a man is not in his “toys”…Selfless men build and selfish men teardown….St Joseph was a man of few words…He did not have to speak because his actions spoke for him…..St Joseph put God first….St Joseph trusted in God’s plan and St Joseph abandoned his “plans” for the greater good…..Selfless men built this nation…And Selfless men will restore it…..If we “fix the man” - We fix society