St. Joseph guarded and guided the Son of God as his own
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 “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
On this feast day we honor St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and foster father of Jesus the Son of God.
Our Eternal Father chose a unique man to fulfill these responsibilities, one who will do all that is asked of him. We are introduced to this righteous man in the very first chapter of Matthew. “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” (Matthew 1:16,18). He was generous and compassionate, unwilling to let Mary be disgraced and dishonored. When an angel told the truth to Joseph in a dream, he showed his loyalty to God, Mary and her Son – whom he would raise as his own child.
Like his bride and her son Jesus, Joseph was humble and faithful to Almighty God. And that meant that he was also faithful to himself – the good and just man God created him to be. He quietly went about the task of protecting and providing for his family, the Holy Family. Without calling attention to himself, Joseph the carpenter looked after Mary and Jesus day after day until the Son of God was grown and ready for His work of salvation. Joseph fulfilled the divine will with the deep love that each one of us is called to embrace – and then to share with others according to the Lord’s plan. Let us turn to Joseph as an example for our daily lives whatever God calls us to do.
