Responding to the Challenge of being a "Custos"

POPE FRANCIS I DURING HIS INAUGURAL MASS.
Image from catholic.org

The Holy Father in his inaugural homily yesterday spoke of St Joseph's role as "Custos" or "Protector". In line with this, he also challenged everyone to become "protectors". "Custos" is the Latin word for keeper, watchman or guardian; the root of the words custody, custodial and custodian.

He discussed how St Joseph was "protector". He said that Joseph protected the Child Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary, and indirectly for being protectors of Jesus and Mary, the Church. He said that Joseph exercised his role as "protector" 

"[d]iscreetly, humbly and silently, but with an unfailing presence and utter fidelity, even when he finds it hard to understand."

He also said that Joseph responded to his calling as protector,

'By being constantly attentive to God, open to the signs of God's presence and receptive to God's plans, and not simply to his own. ... Joseph is a "protector" because he is able to hear God's voice and be guided by his will; and for this reason he is all the more sensitive to the persons entrusted to his safekeeping.'

He made mentioned of David who planned to build a Temple to God but was told that the same would have to be fulfilled by his descendant to emphasize the point that it is not us who decides as to what will ultimately take place but God. As the saying goes, "Man proposes, God disposes." So with Joseph who had other plans [like divorcing Mary secretly after discovering that she was already with child] but discards that decision upon being told by the angel that the child in Mary's womb would be the one he would call Jesus "for he will save his people from their sins" [see Matthew 1: 18-24 ].

Then mentioning this as the core of Christian vocation, challenged each one of us are called to become a custos or "protector" like Joseph saying, 

"Let us protect Christ in our lives, so that we can protect others, so that we can protect creation."

However, he also emphasized that the role or vocation of "protector" is not only for each Christian to fulfill for it is a role that everyone has to perform being humans particularly mentioning "respecting each of God's creatures and respecting the environment in which we live" making reference to Genesis and to St Francis of Assisi. He even called on people who are in positions of responsibility in political, economic and social life, and all men and women of goodwill to join in protecting creation and God's plan.  These words he said ought to be reflected on by all, even non-Christians and non-Catholics,

"It means protecting people, showing loving concern for each and every person, especially children, elderly, those in need, who are often the last we think about. It means caring for one another in our families: husbands and wives first protect each other, and then, as parents, they acre for their children, and children themselves, in time, protect their parents. It means building sincere friendships in which we protect one another in trust, respect, and goodness. In the end, everything has been entrusted to our protection, and all of us are responsible for it. Be protectors of God's gifts!"

He also mentioned the need to protect our emotions and said that hatred, envy and pride defiles our lives and said that we have to have tenderness referring back to St Joseph who had strength but also had tenderness. He reminded everyone authentic power is manifested through service. He also said that '[t]ragically, in every period of history there are "Herods" who plot death, wreak havoc, and mar the countenance of men and women'.

The challenge has been made. The call has been sounded. Each one of us is challenged and called to become a custos, a protector. As we continue our pilgrimage here on earth, let us not forget this important role and responsibility for failure to fulfill this opens the way to destruction and the hardness of hearts. Let us not be like Cain who, though guilty of his brother's blood, still had the temerity to answer back to God with, "Am I my brother's keeper?" [Genesis 4:9]. Instead let us fulfill our role as guardians of each other, of our families, of our communities, of the whole creation, of the Church, and of the dignity and the rightful place of God in our lives.

Through the proclamation of the Gospel of Holy Friendship, John 15: 12-17, we can manifest our response to this call, to the challenge of being custi, protectors. The Lord Jesus Himself said that it is through our love for one another that the world will recognize us as His friends [see John 13:34-35]. Moreover, we can also show our being protectors by washing each other's feet, not necessarily by literally washing each other's feet only but by caring for one another and for creation as Pope Francis called us to be. 

And as St Joseph fulfilled this role in his life, we can also do it in our lives discreetly, humbly, silently and with attentiveness to God's voice, openness to God's presence and receptiveness to His plans as Pope Francis discussed. We do not have to announce upon the rooftops that we are protecting others and the whole creation through this and that. We just have to do it with the usual intention of giving glory to God and of sincerely obeying the command of the Lord to love one another.