Saint Joseph
Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
19 March 2019
‘Go and tell my servant David, “Thus the Lord speaks: “When your days are ended and you are laid to rest with your ancestors, I will preserve the offspring of your body after you and make his sovereignty secure. (It is he who shall build a house for my name, and I will make his royal throne secure for ever.) I will be a father to him and he a son to me; if he does evil, I will punish him with the rod such as men use, with strokes such as mankind gives. Yet I will not withdraw my favour from him, as I withdrew it from your predecessor. Your House and your sovereignty will always stand secure before me and your throne be established for ever.”’
| Second reading Romans 4:13,16-18,22 |
|---|
The promise of inheriting the world was not made to Abraham and his descendants on account of any law but on account of the righteousness which consists in faith. That is why what fulfils the promise depends on faith, so that it may be a free gift and be available to all of Abraham’s descendants, not only those who belong to the Law but also those who belong to the faith of Abraham who is the father of all of us. As scripture says: I have made you the ancestor of many nations – Abraham is our father in the eyes of God, in whom he put his faith, and who brings the dead to life and calls into being what does not exist.
Though it seemed Abraham’s hope could not be fulfilled, he hoped and he believed, and through doing so he did become the father of many nations exactly as he had been promised: Your descendants will be as many as the stars. This is the faith that was ‘considered as justifying him.’
Gospel Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24
Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife.
Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife.
Reflection
By Bernard M. Borja
Saint Joseph. Many people know the name. If I am to look while I walk or drive around my hometown, it won’t take me five minutes just to see a street, a building, a school, a hospital, or even stores like hardware and drug stores, with the name of Saint Joseph in it. When it comes to structures, the name is pretty popular not just in churches and non-government organizations. Several places in the Philippines, may it be cities or small towns, are named after the man who faced a lot of controversies that still goes on up to the present day.
Many images of Saint Joseph reflects wearing a traditional green and gold colors, sometimes holding a staff with flowers in it, sometimes holding carpentry tools, holding baby Jesus in his arms, or beside the child Jesus holding his hand. Most common images are the sleeping Joseph and, of course, the Holy Family. But how well do we really know Saint Joseph?
His story was only mentioned in two Gospels of the Bible - Matthew and Luke. His name was only mentioned once in the Gospel of John when Jesus came back to His hometown (John 6:41), but was never mentioned in the Gospel of Mark in the same scene at Nazareth (Mark 6:3). In Mark’s Gospel, the neighbors called Jesus “the son of Mary” instead of mentioning his father. For someone who had a very important role in the life of Jesus, there is surprisingly little information about him. However, these information are always enough to point to Jesus. Though we may have read very little about the one called “the foster father of the Messiah”, this does not alter the fact that Saint Joseph, with his wife Mary, became one of the most implored intercessor by people up to this day.
As I child, I’ve known Saint Joseph as the father of Jesus through the image of the Holy Family in our house. Growing up, I learned that he is a worker and a good provider. I used to join processions and celebrations in honor of Saint Joseph as the patron of our parish. I remember the time when I was looking for a job. Months after graduation I was not lucky enough to land on the right job until I prayed and asked for Saint Joseph’s intercession. I got hired after a month and stayed with the company for years. Ever since, I constantly prayed for strength of body and mind to do my work well. Saint Joseph became my inspiration of hard work and perseverance. And maybe it’s because my perception of Saint Joseph is like the titles given to him during his time - the carpenter, the father, the Son of David, the just, compassionate and caring man, a righteous man. But it did not end there.
We may have known him through these titles but we rarely focus on him being the husband of Mary and the details he may have gone through even before they got married. Christmas will always be about the reason for the season - Jesus Christ, the begotten Son of God, given to the world for the forgiveness of sins. While we also remember Mary, the mother of God, let us also honor her husband whose life has always pointed to who matters most and that is Jesus.
I can relate to Saint Joseph with his worries and anxieties. But when we think about it, he always had a very simple antidote to his struggles. He listens and obeys. He has always been faithful to God even though he knew the difficulties he may face. From the time he worried about Mary’s pregnancy and taking her as his wife, to taking care of the child Jesus to prepare for his mission, his life has always been a reflection of every virtue and title given to him that manifested the goodness of God. We can also say that Saint Joseph has given his all to save and protect the one who eventually saves the whole world. Even though his story was only a brief part of the Scriptures, he has been and always will be a big part of this world who inspires and remind us to be faithful, to listen and obey, and surrender everything to God
Prayer
Saint Joseph, we honor you as the true husband of Mary. Your marriage to Mary was a sacred
contract by which you and Mary gave yourselves to each other. Mary really belonged to you
with all she was and had. You had a right to her love and obedience; and no other person so
won her esteem, obedience, and love. Saint Joseph, we thank God for your privilege of being
the virginal husband of Mary. As a token of your own gratitude to God, obtain for us the grace to
love Jesus with all our heart, as you did, and love Mary with some of the tenderness and loyalty
with which you loved her. Amen. (From a novena in honor of St Joseph)
Saint Joseph. Many people know the name. If I am to look while I walk or drive around my hometown, it won’t take me five minutes just to see a street, a building, a school, a hospital, or even stores like hardware and drug stores, with the name of Saint Joseph in it. When it comes to structures, the name is pretty popular not just in churches and non-government organizations. Several places in the Philippines, may it be cities or small towns, are named after the man who faced a lot of controversies that still goes on up to the present day.
Many images of Saint Joseph reflects wearing a traditional green and gold colors, sometimes holding a staff with flowers in it, sometimes holding carpentry tools, holding baby Jesus in his arms, or beside the child Jesus holding his hand. Most common images are the sleeping Joseph and, of course, the Holy Family. But how well do we really know Saint Joseph?
His story was only mentioned in two Gospels of the Bible - Matthew and Luke. His name was only mentioned once in the Gospel of John when Jesus came back to His hometown (John 6:41), but was never mentioned in the Gospel of Mark in the same scene at Nazareth (Mark 6:3). In Mark’s Gospel, the neighbors called Jesus “the son of Mary” instead of mentioning his father. For someone who had a very important role in the life of Jesus, there is surprisingly little information about him. However, these information are always enough to point to Jesus. Though we may have read very little about the one called “the foster father of the Messiah”, this does not alter the fact that Saint Joseph, with his wife Mary, became one of the most implored intercessor by people up to this day.
As I child, I’ve known Saint Joseph as the father of Jesus through the image of the Holy Family in our house. Growing up, I learned that he is a worker and a good provider. I used to join processions and celebrations in honor of Saint Joseph as the patron of our parish. I remember the time when I was looking for a job. Months after graduation I was not lucky enough to land on the right job until I prayed and asked for Saint Joseph’s intercession. I got hired after a month and stayed with the company for years. Ever since, I constantly prayed for strength of body and mind to do my work well. Saint Joseph became my inspiration of hard work and perseverance. And maybe it’s because my perception of Saint Joseph is like the titles given to him during his time - the carpenter, the father, the Son of David, the just, compassionate and caring man, a righteous man. But it did not end there.
We may have known him through these titles but we rarely focus on him being the husband of Mary and the details he may have gone through even before they got married. Christmas will always be about the reason for the season - Jesus Christ, the begotten Son of God, given to the world for the forgiveness of sins. While we also remember Mary, the mother of God, let us also honor her husband whose life has always pointed to who matters most and that is Jesus.
I can relate to Saint Joseph with his worries and anxieties. But when we think about it, he always had a very simple antidote to his struggles. He listens and obeys. He has always been faithful to God even though he knew the difficulties he may face. From the time he worried about Mary’s pregnancy and taking her as his wife, to taking care of the child Jesus to prepare for his mission, his life has always been a reflection of every virtue and title given to him that manifested the goodness of God. We can also say that Saint Joseph has given his all to save and protect the one who eventually saves the whole world. Even though his story was only a brief part of the Scriptures, he has been and always will be a big part of this world who inspires and remind us to be faithful, to listen and obey, and surrender everything to God
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