Happy feast of St. Joseph! It actually was yesterday, but since it was Sunday, was moved to today!
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. MT 1:16, 18-21, 24
In his book, The Mystery of St. Joseph, Marie-Dominique Philippe teaches that St. Joseph’s annunciation is today. When the angel Gabriel visits Mary, announcing the birth of our Lord, it is called the Annunciation. Today, an angel comes to Joseph in a dream to announce that the Holy Spirit put Jesus in Mary’s womb. The angel also announces that God wants Mary to be his wife, for them to be married. The “angel of the Lord” also announces to Joseph that he is to name the child Jesus “because he will save his people from their sins”. The gospel says that Joseph is a “righteous man”. Joseph was chosen by God for a special mission. Mary has already consecrated herself totally to God, now can she also be a wife to St. Joseph? Only if Joseph supports her and consecrates himself to God, too. Joseph must keep silent in Mary’s secret with God, she is carrying the Savior of the world. He must be prudent, chosen by God, to protect Jesus and Mary from danger. Joseph is also called “the worker”. Joseph in his work supports his family financially. He never speaks in the Bible. We learn that Joseph works and prays, his work is even prayer, offering it up to our Lord. He models for us how to “pray without ceasing”. Mary and Joseph never have relations consecrating themselves to God, we could use these great models of chastity and purity in our sex saturated world. Mary and Joseph, pray for us!
Today’s challenge: Be silent, be righteous (virtuous; morally correct), work and pray without ceasing. Consecrate yourself totally and completely to God through Mary (33 Days of Morning Glory-Fr. Michael Gaitley and St. Louis de Montfort). Be prudent (seeing with God’s eyes-awareness of each situation and choosing the right thing). Learn more about St. Joseph.
Be a servant, become a saint!
#Christian YOLO
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