FRIDAY 19TH MARCH 2021
SOLEMNITY OF ST JOSEPH THE HUSBAND OF MARY
2 Samuel 7:4-5,12-14,16, Romans 4:13,16-18,22, Matthew 1:16,18-21,24.
HE LISTENED TO THE VOICE OF GOD AND ACTED ACCORDINGLY
On 8th December 1870, Pope Pius IX in his Apostolic Letter Quemadmodum Deum, had proclaimed St Joseph the patron of the Universal Church. This is after much reflection as to the role he played in our salvation history as the guardian of Jesus and Mary, and of the entire church. On 8th December 2020, in his Apostolic Letter, Patris Corde, Pope Francis declared 8th December 2020 to 8th December 2021 as the year of St Joseph to mark the 150th anniversary of his declaration as the patron of the universal church by Pope Pius IX.
God's promise of his son to us was a prophecy that was reechoed by many prophets. They all said that God promised that at the appointed time, he will send his son, born of a woman into our world.
In the first reading of today, we hear the prophecy of samuel who God sent to inform David that the promised messiah will be from his lineage. Joseph therefore is the one who as the foster father of Jesus, makes this prophecy come to pass in the gospel reading. The genealogy of Jesus is traced from Abraham to David, and from David to Joseph the husband of Mary. Joseph is not just the foster father of Jesus but the one prepared by God to fulfill his promise. Jesus did not just regard Joseph as his foster father, and Joseph did not just perform the role of a foster father. He treated Jesus and Mary as his biological family. We see it at the very beginning when he refused to disgrace Mary for being pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit before they came to live together. When Herod was after Jesus, he took him to Egypt to protect him and Mary. As a carpenter, he laboured to care for his family, and he brought up Jesus in the right way according to the Jewish culture and religion.
Joseph is therefore a model of a virtuous and perfect gentleman we should all emulate today. In the celebration of the Eucharist, he is honoured and asked for intercession immediately the name of Mary is mentioned. We pray for all those who bear the name Joseph today, and we pray for ourselves too, that just like Joseph the husband of Mary, we may be ready to listen to the voice of God and abide by it. Amen.
Lord, help me to carry out the work you have given to me judiciously. May I never disappoint you. Amen.
Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP
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