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Friday, March 19, 2021

Silent Worker


The WORD today 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. He did not think of his shame or his anger that Mary got pregnant not with his child, but instead thought of what he thinks Mary wanted. 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.

How do I serve God? Do I announce to the world what I do for God?  Or am I willing to serve God silently without telling others? With the corona virus situation right now, how do I show my love and service to other people, even in my own way? 

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 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 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. Lord, bless us and help us with what we are going through right now. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,
-g-


March 19, 2021
Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

FIRST READING

The LORD spoke to Nathan and said:
“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

R. The son of David will live for ever. 

The promises of the LORD I will sing for ever, through all generations my mouth will 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.

SECOND READING

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.

ALLELUIA

R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

Blessed are those who dwell in your house, O Lord; they never cease to praise you. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL

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. 

or: 



Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them.
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