Joseph “did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him.” – Matthew 1:24
Both St. Joseph and St. Paul are examples par excellence of holy men who fully surrendered to God’s holy will. In our readings this Sunday, St. Joseph demonstrates his faith and trust in God’s will when he changes his plans to quietly divorce Mary (Matthew 1:19). God communicated His holy will for Joseph through an angel who appeared in a dream, and Joseph listened, changed his plans to fit God’s plan, and then promptly and silently carried out God’s will, becoming Jesus’s foster father and one of our greatest saints. He is a model of obedience and surrender.
Likewise, St. Paul was completely submitted to God’s plan for him. He recognized that he was “a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1). He spent himself in service to God’s will, letting the Holy Spirit direct his travels, actions, and teaching. He called others to “the obedience of faith” and to holiness (Romans 1:5-7).
The ability to unite our own will with God’s will enshrines God’s peace in our hearts. We don’t have to fear the future when we are confident in and abandoned to His Divine Providence. One way to grow in surrender to God is to ask Him in prayer for this virtue. You can offer this short prayer when you feel anxiety coming on: “O Jesus, I surrender myself to You, take care of everything!” (from the Surrender Novena by Fr. Dolindo Ruotolo).
Heavenly Father, I desire to listen to You so I can seek and do Your will. Give me the grace of surrender. Send your Holy Spirit to soothe every anxiety in me and replace it with an unshakable trust in You.
Prayer for Surrender: Surrender Novena by Servant of God Fr. Dolindo Ruotolo
Suggested reading: Abandonment to Divine Providence by Fr. Jean-Pierre de Caussade
