St. Joseph, Groom of Blessed Mary
St. Joseph is honored with feast days throughout the Liturgical
Year. This feast encourages us to look at Joseph's role as husband and
head of the Holy Family.
Most of what we know about the life of
St. Joseph comes to us from Scripture and legends that have sprung up
regarding his life. Though Joseph is only mentioned by two of the
evangelists, he is paid the compliment of being a "just" man. This is a
way of saying that Joseph was such a good and holy man that he shares in
God's own holiness. In addition, Joseph gives us an example of how to
be a just spouse and how to have holy relationships.
Joseph's
example as a husband can be best seen in how he respected Mary. He
realized that God had a special plan for his wife and for his son, and
Joseph did everything in his power to help this plan become reality.
When Joseph was given chances to give up his vocation to the married
life, by divorcing Mary or leaving her, he resisted the temptation and
stayed by her side providing support and love.
The feast of St.
Joseph Husband of Mary has been celebrated throughout the church since
the tenth century and has been honored as the Patron of the Universal
Church since 1870. St. Joseph is the patron of workers, carpenters,
Austria, Belgium, Bohemia, Canada, Mexico, Peru, and southern Vietnam.
2 Samuel 7:4-5, 12-14, 16
4 But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan,
5 "Go and tell my servant David, `Thus says the LORD: Would you build me a house to dwell in?
12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with
your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come
forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. When
he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, with the
stripes of the sons of men;
16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.'"
Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24
16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this
way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came
together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit;
19 and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
20 But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the
Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not
fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of
the Holy Spirit;
21 she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife,
Or
Luke 2:41-51
41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.
42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom;
43 and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,
44 but supposing him to be in the company they went a day's journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances;
45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him.
46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions;
47 and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
48 And when they saw him they were astonished; and his
mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your
father and I have been looking for you anxiously."
49 And he said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"
50 And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them.
51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
Psalms 89:2-5, 27, 29
1 I will sing of thy steadfast love, O LORD, for ever; with my mouth I will proclaim thy faithfulness to all generations.
2 For thy steadfast love was established for ever, thy faithfulness is firm as the heavens.
3 Thou hast said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant:
4 `I will establish your descendants for ever, and build your throne for all generations.'" [Selah]
26 He shall cry to me, `Thou art my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.'
28 My steadfast love I will keep for him for ever, and my covenant will stand firm for him.
Second Reading
Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22
13 The promise to Abraham and his descendants, that
they should inherit the world, did not come through the law but through
the righteousness of faith.
16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the
promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants --
not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the
faith of Abraham, for he is the father of us all,
17 as it is written, "I have made you the father of
many nations" -- in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who
gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not
exist.
18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should
become the father of many nations; as he had been told, "So shall your
descendants be."
22 That is why his faith was "reckoned to him as righteousness."
Lord, increase my faith
Tuesday March 19 2024
ST JOSEPH, spouse of the B.V.M.
2
Sam 7:4-5, 12-14, 16; Ps. 88:2-5, 27,
29;
Rom
4:13, 16-18, 22;
Mt
1:16, 18-21, 24 or Lk 2:41-51 (Psalter Proper)
David wanted to build God a house, but God did not want one and had never asked for one. We often want to perform unwanted honours for God while avoiding the things that God has really asked of us – like justice and mercy. God refused Davis’s offer but promised that He would build David a house instead – a dynasty of his descendants to sit on the throne of Israel. God always outdoes us in generosity.
Abraham is our father in faith because he
had absolute trust in God – and that is what faith is, rather than doctrines
and dogmas. He based his entire life on God’s promise. For us, faith is
continuing to trust in God even when the path becomes very dim. Joseph was a
perfect example of faith. Even though he was a bit upset at the beginning, once
he was reassured by the angel, he had no more questions. He believed the
message from God given by the angel and was absolutely obedient. We are given
so many fine examples of faith and courage in the Scriptures, and yet we are
often weak and fearful. Let us pray that these examples of faith strengthen and
encourage us.
Lord, increase my faith.