Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 03-19-14, SOL, St. Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

A Heroic Example

| SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Virgin Mary

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.

Introductory Prayer: Lord, in spite of difficulties I trust in your love and mercy. I believe in you, I hope in you, and I love you above all things. These ingredients – faith, hope and love – will help strengthen me for today’s battle. Lord, I entrust myself to you unconditionally.

Petition: Lord, grant me a clean conscience like that of your foster father, Joseph.

1. My Situation: A danger could exist on our spiritual journey. When everything is quiet, works well and is intelligible, or when others esteem our efforts, our life seems to flourish. On the other hand, when everything is tough, humiliating or painful, a repugnance seems to cast a gray cloud over us. We may even begin to wonder if God still loves us. We need to keep our faith in God strong always. Joseph is a good example for us to emulate, for he did not become discouraged easily when undergoing trials.

2. A Clean Conscience: Joseph, a just man, wanted to believe Mary’s story, but the facts were too harsh to comprehend. He loved and cared for Mary, but he felt betrayed. Since he had a clean conscience, he tried to dismiss the perfect dream of taking Mary to be his wife and decided to divorce her quietly. God, seeing Joseph’s honesty, communicated to him the truth about Mary’s integrity. A message in a dream was enough to convince his willing heart. How willing am I to believe the works of God in my life? How willing am I to fulfill God’s will?

3. Not All Is Easy for a Just Man: God chose a man of great integrity and detail to shoulder the daunting responsibility of raising his Son. Would Joseph ever have imagined that five months after taking Mary into his home he would have to take her to Bethlehem without any comforts or security during the journey? Would he ever have imagined that he would have to flee to Egypt, dodging swords and soldiers? This was the price he paid for being an honorable man. However, the Lord rewarded Joseph with being the foster father of the Creator of the Universe, with all the blessings and satisfactions that this would imply.

Conversation with Christ: O Christ, King and Lord, your foster father Saint Joseph provides me with an example of courage in bearing serenely the weight of life’s crosses and difficulties. Help me to see the beauty of giving limitlessly and surrendering my life to you.

Resolution: I will chat with Saint Joseph at some moment during the day, asking him to teach me how to be serene in times of trial.

Homily of the Day

March 19, 2014

For today’s gospel, we are given the option of choosing from the gospel of Matthew or Luke. For this reflection, let us use Luke’s narration of the “Finding at the Temple.” Immediately we notice that Joseph is not even mentioned by name. Even the few lines of spoken words are between Jesus and his mother. Joseph is only inferred by the gospel’s reference to Jesus’ parents. What does the gospel speak to us about St. Joseph and why does the Church choose these verses to honor St. Joseph? We know that Joseph is described by the gospel as a just man. What does “just” mean in the Jewish society of his time? Maybe it would be easier for us if we put ourselves in the shoes of St. Joseph and feel how he must have felt knowing that he is called by God to be the “Father” of the only begotten Son of God. What was he thinking when gazing lovingly at the baby Jesus sleeping peacefully in his arms? What was he thinking when he had to reprimand the naughty boy Jesus to teach him to be careful with tools of his trade which could hurt the boy? What was in his mind and what are his feelings when he discovered that Jesus was not with them in the caravan on the way home? Let us ponder on these questions in our quiet prayer.

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All Issues > Volume 30, Issue 2

<< Wednesday, March 19, 2014 >>

St. Joseph

2 Samuel 7:4-5, 12-14, 16
Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22
View Readings

Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29
Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24
or Luke 2:41-51
Similar Reflections

FAITH-HEARING

"All depends on faith, everything is grace." —Romans 4:16

In our highly secularized society and churches, our faith is weak. Many Christians doubt the truth of the Bible, Jesus' institution the Church, Jesus' "real presence" in the Eucharist, and even the objectivity of moral standards. In this secularized condition, we desperately need faith and examples of faith. We need St. Joseph, the man of faith.

Joseph made some of the greatest acts of faith in history. He believed that his fiance, Mary, was with child by the power of the Holy Spirit (Mt 1:20-24). Joseph had such faith that he obeyed the Lord's command to take Jesus and Mary and flee to Egypt (Mt 2:13-14). We need the faith of Joseph.

"All depends on faith" (Rm 4:16), yet faith can be rare (see Lk 18:8). The necessity and rarity of faith make it even more important to have all the help we can get to grow in faith. Faith in Jesus is a result of a good, personal relationship with Him. "Faith is confident assurance" (Heb 11:1). It "comes through hearing" (Rm 10:17), as is normally the case with any aspects of a personal relationship. For example, as we hear another person better, we deepen our relationship with this person and develop a confident assurance in their presence. Joseph, having been called to be Jesus' foster-father, heard Jesus' first words. Joseph not only heard Jesus' first words, but many of His words for years. Thereby, Joseph developed a faith that was even greater than he had before Jesus' conception.

Joseph heard Jesus in a unique way. He had great faith. He is willing to share his faith with us. Ask Joseph to pray for you.

Prayer: Father, may I see the full significance of Your calling of Joseph to be Jesus' foster-father.

Promise: "Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before Me; your throne shall stand firm forever." —2 Sm 7:16

Praise: St. Joseph protected Jesus from an assassination attempt.

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