The distinct tasks of discerning, then knowing, and finally carrying out the will of God each present their own particular challenges. The Gospel describes Joseph as a righteous man, and so it seems unlikely that he would have resolved to divorce Mary quietly without first seeking, in prayer, to understand God’s will in the bewildering situation before him. Yet his initial discernment appears to have been mistaken, and his decision—however compassionate—stood contrary to what God desired. One can easily imagine that this misjudgment arose, at least in part, from the storm of hurt, confusion, and disappointment that must have overtaken him upon learning that his betrothed was with child before they lived together.
And yet, precisely because Joseph was righteous—because his heart was fundamentally open to God and sincerely desirous of doing what God asked—the Lord was able to correct his error. In the quiet of a dream, God revealed the true meaning of Mary’s pregnancy and redirected Joseph’s course. It is striking that the angel offers Joseph no rebuke, no chastisement for having discerned imperfectly. Instead, the angel calms his fear, clarifies the truth, and gently leads him into the deeper mystery of God’s plan.
Many of the most important discernment moments in our own lives unfold in similarly clouded circumstances—when the mind is unsettled, the heart is confused, and strong emotions obscure our ability to think clearly. In such moments, we must certainly guard against hasty decisions made without adequate prayer or reflection. But we must also resist the opposite temptation: the paralysis that comes from an over-scrupulous need to be absolutely certain that every step we take is perfectly aligned with God’s will. If we wait for one hundred percent clarity before acting, we may never act at all.
The example of Saint Joseph reassures us. If our hearts, like his, are fundamentally open—if we genuinely desire to discover and to do God’s will—then even when our discernment is imperfect or mistaken, God will not abandon us to our error. He will accompany us, correct us, and gently guide us back to the center of his will. God’s fidelity is greater than our confusion, and his providence is not thwarted by our limitations.
In that spirit, let us ask Saint Joseph to intercede for us, that we may be granted a faith like his and a heart as docile and receptive as his. May we find our peace and our joy in doing what the Lord commands, and so play our part in bringing the good news of our Savior to a world longing for healing, hope, and redemption.