St. JOSEPH, SPOUSE OF BLESSED VIRGIN MARY--------------- SOLEMNITY.
READINGS:
1R: 2 Sam 7: 4 - 5a, 12 - 14a, 16.
PS 88 :2 - 3, 4 - 5, 27 & 29.
2R: Rom 4: 13, 16 - 18, 22.
GOS MT 1: 16, 18 - 21,24a. OR LK 2 : 41 - 51a.
TODAY IS THE SOLEMN FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH, THE PATRON AND GUARDIAN OF UNIVERSAL CHURCH; FOR US ALSO THE PATRON OF MANGALORE DIOCESE.
THE READINGS OF TODAY CALL UPON US TO REFLECT GOD'S SALVIFIC PLAN.
THE FIRST READING EXPLAINS ABOUT GOD'S PROMISE TO KING DAVID, THROUGH PROPHET NATHAN, THAT GOD BUILDS A ' ' ' HOUSE ' FOR ( PROGENY OF ) DAVID, MAKING HIS TRIBE RULE FOR EVER.
THE SECOND READING IS SUCH AN INSPIRING COMMENTARY ON ABRAHAM'S FAITH AND A CALL TO CHRISTIANS
TO GIVE ' FAITH RESPONSE ' TO GOD'S REVELATION.
IN THE GOSPEL ST. MATHEW ESTABLISHES A LINK BETWEEN KING DAVID AND JESUS AND
PRESENTS JOSEPH AS THE JUST MAN WHO CARRIES OUT IMMEDIATELY THE WISH OF GOD AS TOLD TO HIM THROUGH DREAMS / VISIONS.
LESSONS:
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT WE ENCOUNTER A JOSEPH, WHO HAS DREAMS AND WHO INTERPRETS DREAMS. LATER JOSEPH BECOMES IN A WAY C. E. O. OF EGYPT; AND THE KING SAYS- " GO TO JOSEPH ".
SIMILARLY IN THE PRESENT TIMES, THE HOLY MOTHER CHURCH EXHORTS HER CHILDREN ,TO " GO TO JOSEPH "
JOSEPH IS KNOWN TO BE A JUST MAN INDICATING THAT HE FULFILLED ALL HIS OBLIGATIONS; ( TO BE JUST= GIVING ONE'S DUES ), TOWARDS GOD AND HIS FELLOW PERSONS AND HIMSELF. LET US ALSO BE ' JUST ' AS JOSEPH.
JOSEPH IS ACCLAIMED FOR HIS QUALITY OF IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO GOD'S WORD. LET US ALSO CARRY OUT GOD'S WILL WITHOUT GRUDGING.
JOSEPH IS ALSO THE PATRON OF GOOD DEATH. HE HAD THE SINGULAR PRIVILEGE OF DYING , WITH MOTHER MARY AND JESUS AT HIS BED SIDE . LET US PRAY FOR THE GRACE OF GOOD DEATH.
HAPPY FEAST TO ALL.
