"Dreams are a privileged place to look for the truth because in them we do not defend ourselves from the truth. They come, and ... and God also speaks in dreams; not always, because it is usually our unconscious that comes, but God so often chooses to speak in dreams.”
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – In his homily during the Mass he celebrated today at Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis said that "Joseph is the man who knows how to accompany in silence", a "man of dreams". The pontiff also prayed for the disabled children of Slovakia, who made Christmas decorations for the tree near the altar.
In the Holy Scriptures, we know Joseph as "a righteous man, who observed the law, worked hard, was humble, and loved Mary.” When first faced with something he did not understand, “he preferred to step back” but “God revealed to him his mission.” Thus, Joseph embraced his task, his role wholeheartedly, and helped raise the Son of God “in silence, without judging, without speaking poorly of others, and without gossiping.”
“He helped him [Jesus] grow and develop. So, he looked for a place for the child to be born. He looked after him, helped him grow, and taught him to work: many things … in silence. He never took possession of the child for himself. He silently let him grow. He let him grow: This idea could help us immensely, we who by nature always want to stick our noses in everything, especially in the lives of others … And we start gossiping, talking… But he let him grow, silently watching over him and helping him.”
For the pope, such a wise attitude can be seen in many parents: the ability to wait without immediately scolding, even in the face of a mistake. It is essential to know how to wait, before saying something that can help children grow. Waiting in silence, as God does with his children, for whom he has so much patience.
Commenting on the Gospel passage (Mt 1: 18-24) in which the angel appeared to Saint Joseph in a dream, Francis said that the latter was a practical man with an open heart, a "man of dreams", not "a dreamer".
"Dreams are a privileged place to look for the truth because in them we do not defend ourselves from the truth. They come, and ... and God also speaks in dreams; not always, because it is usually our unconscious that comes, but God so often chooses to speak in dreams. He did so many times. We can see this in the Bible, right? In dreams. Joseph was a man of dreams but not a dreamer, right? He was not fanciful. A dreamer is something else. He is what he believes ... he stands ... on the air, and has no feet on the ground. Joseph had his feet on the ground and was open-minded."
In concluding, Francis urged people not to lose the ability to dream, the ability to open up to tomorrow with confidence, despite the difficulties that can arise.
"Do not lose the ability to dream about the future: each of us. Let each of us dream about our family, our children, our parents. Looking at how I would like their lives to go. Priests too can dream about our believers, what we want for them. We can dream the way young people dream, who are brazen in their dreams and in them can find a way. We should not lose the ability to dream because dreaming is opening the doors to the future, [and] be fruitful in the future.”