Solemnity of Saint Joseph
Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a
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.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Understanding the Father
“Joseph, son of David”…Recently I was blessed to visit St. John the Baptist Church in the Amazon area of Brazil. One stained glass window depicted two toddlers, Jesus and John, at play with Joseph and Mary looking on. It was a scene I had never contemplated before. I was immediately drawn to Joseph who seemed unable to take his eyes off the two little ones. Joseph, the one who can’t take his eyes off Jesus.
Toddlers are always the center of attention when they are in the room. Jesus’ understanding of ‘father’ must have budded in his relationship with Joseph and grew within him into an image of his heavenly Father through the years.
How much did my earthly father form my image of our Creator God? And how much does Ignatian spirituality help to see the simple things in life with God revealing sight?
—Joyce Shanabarger is a Franciscan Sister of the Sacred Heart and a member of the Board of the Ignatian Spirituality Project.
Prayer
Joseph, son of David, you cared for Jesus from infancy forward. Your love nourished him and your goodness inspired him. Inspire us, too, to love the children in our lives and to share goodness with all we meet. May we move to a place where we cannot take our eyes off Jesus this Lenten season. We ask in the name of Jesus, the Christ. Amen.
—Joyce Shanabarger