TODAY'S WORD
By
Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore
Mathew: 1:20 "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."*
TODAY'S REFLECTION
FIRST READING
The prophet Jeremiah was speaking to a people who no longer found meaning in God and in their religious worship because evil kings have been misleading them. So after his oracles against the kings (Jer 22:10-30),
Jeremiah gave the people a message of hope that God was going to raise a new king from the house of David who will lead the people in wisdom, justice and righteousness.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER
Are you also waiting for the Lord’s coming?
Are you waiting in righteousness?
Are you ready to let go of any deal of darkness?
The Gospel of the day is a beautiful glimpse to understand the person of St Joseph.
Let’s learn a few of his important virtues.
St Joseph was ever attentive and obedient to the voice of God
St Joseph was able to let go of his personal choices and his desired comforts and give top priority to do what God wanted him to do.
Holiness consists in doing what God wants – when and where He wants
St Joseph teaches us the love for Jesus and Mary
He knew that in God’s plan, They belonged to him, and he would safeguard Them – treasuring Them close to his heart.
Our faith has blessed us with love for Jesus and Mother Mary.
Can we also imitate St Joseph, in holding Them close to our hearts?
Humility is a virtue radiated by St Joseph
St Joseph had to face many moments of humiliation, disappointment and uncertainty.
But in his humility, he remained true to God in all those moments
Life sometimes drags us into situations of sadness and even shame.
Many times we let go of God’s Hands, saying that “He is not fair” or “He doesn’t understand me”!
St Joseph teaches us that there is much value in humbling oneself, before the mighty power of the Almighty
St Joseph was content to be the “silent worker” in the awesome work of Salvation
He is a mighty challenge to our world, where seeking for honour, position, fame and reputation become cheap motives, in doing works of charity or even, sadly to say, in ministries of the Church.
St Joseph is the model of chastity
Mary is the New Ark of Covenant, bearing Divinity in Her.
St Jerome, says that St Joseph, the son of David, shared his royal ancestor’s fear of coming into overly close contact with the Tabernacle of the Lord: “Who am I,” asked King David, “that the Ark of the Lord should come to me?” (2 Sam. 6:9)
Chastity is the virtue that moderates the desire for sexual pleasure according to the principles of faith and right reason.
In married people, chastity moderates the desire in conformity with their state of life
In unmarried people who wish to marry, the desire is moderated by abstention or unless they get married
In those who resolve not to marry, the desire is sacrificed entirely.
St Joseph is often depicted with a White Lily in his hand, to depict purity and holiness
St Joseph was prefigured in Joseph of the Old Testament
In the Old Testament, we read Joseph, the son of Jacob, had stored up, in Egypt, grain to provide bread for the preservation of the People of Israel (Gen 42)
In the New Testament, St Joseph, safeguarded, in Egypt, the Bread of Life, for the salvation of the People of God. (Mt 1: 14)
St Joseph is a model leader
This Year has been declared by Holy Father Pope Francis as the Year of St Joseph.
St Joseph invites us to grow in obedience to the Will of God – with promptness and joy
Let us pray that we will be able to nurture a deeper and tender affection for Jesus and Mother Mary and be close to Them, to lead a pure and holy life.
May the greatness of St Joseph inspire us
And may we talk and pray to St Joseph more..
… than just think of him, only during Christmas season!
RESOLUTION
May the Lord give you the grace to uphold righteousness and shun darkness now and forever. May he also give you hope when things seem not to be falling into their rightful place in your life.
GOD BLESS YOU, SO TO IMITATE THE VIRTUES OF ST. JOSEPH.