The head of the Holy Family will come to our assistance and that of those near and dear to us if we ask him
Reflections on the readings for the Solemnity of St. Joseph (March 19, 2019): 2SM 7:4-5,12-14,16; PS 69:2-3,4-5,27,29; ROM 4:13,16-18,22; MT 1:16,18-21,24
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
God made a promise to King David through the prophet Nathan.
“Go, tell My servant David, ‘When your time comes and you rest with 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” (2 Samuel 7:5,12-13). The dynasty of David and the longing of Israel would culminate in the birth of the Messiah. Jesus who was born of the Blessed Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit was legally the son of Joseph who was of David’s house. Jesus, Redeemer of humankind, honored and obeyed Joseph as His father. And Joseph cared for Him and His mother with complete dedication. The carpenter of Nazareth guarded them and gave them best home he could – a simple place rich with profound faith in Almighty God, hope in His eternal plan, and love for Him and each other.
St. Joseph, from whom we never hear a single word uttered in Scripture, is recognized as the patron of many places and situations. The person charged by God with wisely and bravely protecting Jesus is now protector of the Universal Church. The man who gently and prudently taught Jesus how to be a man is patron of fathers. And the head of the Holy Family who peacefully and patiently died in the arms of Mary and Jesus is the one we invoke for a happy death. Every day we can ask St. Joseph to look after us and our loved ones just as he did so long ago for the Son of God and His holy mother.
Suggested missionary action: Let us turn to St. Joseph to defend our home and family from harm and help us to do good. He can be our model of fidelity to the Lord. We can start by honoring him and entrusting ourselves to his aid, perhaps through a novena.
