The WORD
today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032017.cfm)
reminds me that it is okay to be a silent worker for God.
Today, we celebrate the feast
day of St Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus and the husband of Mama Mary.
Little is known about him – but we know he had an important role in the
salvation history. He was there to help, support and care for Mama Mary when she
was pregnant with Jesus. He was the earthly father who took care of Jesus as an
infant, and probably taught him carpentry. We cannot deny he was a true
follower of God. In today’s reading, we see him having the decency and
righteousness not to want Mary to be exposed to shame for being pregnant
without a husband. We also see his faith and obedience in God - when the angel
told him to take Mary into his home, he followed.
God does not need grand gestures for him to know that we love
him.
As human beings, it is very
difficult to be like St Joseph. It is difficult to work silently for the Lord –
people want to be praised and acknowledged. And more often than not, those who
are loud are those who get attention. We sometimes think God is like that as
well, that we need to do grand things for him to notice us. We think that we
need to announce the good that we are doing so that others can affirm us and we
sometimes equate that to God’s affirmation as well. God is not like us. He looks at the heart and it does not matter if we work
silently – he still sees our hearts.
God is sensitive. He hears and sees what people cannot. He sees the quiet and sincere heart we have for Him, so we need not broadcast all the good we are doing for Him. People’s affirmation does not always mean God’s affirmation.
May we be inspired by St Joseph
to work silently for the Lord, and follow God no matter how challenging the
situation may be.
Father God,
Thank you for
today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. Thank you
for giving us St Joseph – a human being too but has the qualities of a great
servant of God. I am sorry for the times I seek for human affirmation and
recognition for the work I do for you. Sorry for the times I think that I need
to get their attention in order to get yours. Lord, I ask that you give me a
heart like St Joseph. May I never want praise and attention to myself, but work
hard and silently to build your kingdom. May I be sensitive to others and put
the welfare of others above my own, above my concern. Amen.
Blessed
week!
In
Christ,
-g-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 20, 2017
Solemnity of Saint Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lectionary: 543
Reading 1 2 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16
"Go, tell my servant David,
'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.
Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me;
your throne shall stand firm forever.'"
Responsorial Psalm Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29
The promises of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness,
For you have said, "My kindness is established forever";
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R. The son of David will live for ever.
"I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations."
R. The son of David will live for ever.
"He shall say of me, 'You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.'
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm."
R. The son of David will live for ever.
Reading 2 Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22
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.
Verse Before the Gospel Ps 84:5
they never cease to praise you.
Gospel Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a
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.
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