Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary, Monday, March 20, 2017.
1st Reading: 2nd Samuel 7:4-5a.12-14a.16.
That night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said: “Go, tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: Should you build me a house to dwell in? And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his kingdom firm. It is he who shall build a house for my name. And I will make his royal throne firm forever. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. And if he does wrong, I will correct him with the rod of men and with human chastisements; Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.'” The word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm: 89(88):2-3.4-5.27.29
R/. The son of David will live for ever.
2nd Reading: Romans 4:13.16-18.22.
Brothers and sisters: It was not through the law that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants that he would inherit the world, but through the righteousness that comes from faith. For this reason, it depends on faith, so that it may be a gift, and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not to those who only adhere to the law but to those who follow the faith of Abraham, who is the father of all of us, as it is written, “I have made you father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not exist. He believed, hoping against hope, that he would become “the father of many nations,” according to what was said, “Thus shall your descendants be.” That is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” The word of the Lord.
Holy Gospel: Matthew 1:16.18-21.24a.
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. 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. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. The gospel of the Lord.
MONDAY REFLECTIONS:
What’s interesting to note, however, is that the beginning of this call seemed to be marked with an apparent scandal. Mary was pregnant and it was not from Joseph. How could this be? The only earthly explanation was infidelity on Mary’s part. But this was so contrary to whom Joseph perceived her to be. He certainly would have been quite shocked and quite confused as he faced this apparent dilemma. What should he do? We know what he decided to do at first. He decided to divorce her quietly. But then the angel spoke to him in a dream. And, after he awoke from his sleep, “he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.” One aspect of this situation to ponder is the fact that Joseph had to embrace his wife and her Son in faith. This new family of his was beyond human reason alone.
There was no way to make sense of it simply by trying to figure it out. He had to approach it with faith. Faith means he had to rely upon the voice of God speaking to him in his conscience. Yes, he relied on what the angel spoke to him in the dream, but that was a dream! People can have all sorts of strange dreams! His human tendency would be to question this dream and wonder if this was real. Was this really from God? Is this Child truly from the Holy Spirit? How could this be? All of these questions, and every other question that would have arisen in St. Joseph’s mind, could only be answered by faith. But the good news is that faith does give answers. Faith enables a person to face the confusions of life with strength, conviction and certitude. Faith opens up the door to peace in the midst of uncertainty. It eliminates fear and replaces it with the joy of knowing we are following God’s will. Faith works and faith is what we all need in life to survive.
Pray with me: Lord, enable me to walk by faith each and every day. Allow my mind to rise above human wisdom alone and to see Your divine plan in all things. St. Joseph, pray for me that I may imitate the faith you lived in your own life. St. Joseph, pray for us. Jesus, I trust in You that You alone will heal our sick brethren and set them free. May the souls of our faithful departed brethren rest in perfect peace, amen.
Sourced by Wiezman Eleanya