Daily Reflection – 3/19/19
Sacred Scripture
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.( Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a)
Reflection
By calling Joseph “son of David”, the angel “calls attention to Joseph’s own royal heritage and his crucial role of passing on Davidic descent to Jesus”. Joseph fulfills this role by naming Jesus and claiming the child as his own.
In this obedient act of naming the child, Joseph makes Jesus a legal heir to David. Joseph is a just and upright man, who, like Abraham and David, trusts God totally. Joseph’s faith and trust are fully manifested in his obedience to God’s commandment: he does just as the angel of the Lord commanded him, taking Mary into his home and naming the child Jesus.
It always fascinates me that those who were to be the parents of Jesus demonstrate to us a profound love of God manifest in their total obedience to the words of the angel. What about us? When things do not go as we expect them to, can we bow in submission to our God? Do we even know what submitting ourselves to God means? Can we truly believe that His will is best for us especially when it is contra to that which we expect? Can we sublimate our egos to Him and His will?
As we celebrate the solemnity of Joseph today, we contemplate him as a model of faith and trust in God. We should strive to imitate Joseph, asking God to increase our faith and help us in our unbelief. Second, as we meditate today on Joseph’s role in the history of salvation, we ask God to enlighten us about our own mission and we ask him for the grace and strength to fulfill that mission as Joseph did.
Prayer of The Day
O Jesus, our King and Lord, your foster father Saint Joseph provides me with an example of courage in bearing serenely the weight of life’s crosses and difficulties. Help me to see the beauty of giving limitlessly and surrendering my life to you.
Daily Note
Yesterday and today, we are confronted with challenges and well they should be during this period of introspection and commitment to strengthen our relationship with God. Especially today, think about His will for your life. Do you believe it exists? Will you follow that will even if it means carrying across that you do not wish to bear? Will you strengthen your resolve to be obedient to Him regardless of the situation?
