DAILY- HOMILY

March 20, 2017 – MONDAY,3rd Week of Lent

ST. JOSEPH, Husband of Mary

Patron of the Society of Jesus

Solemnity, White, [Transferred from 79 March 2077]

2 Sm 7: 4- Sa, 12-14a, 16 I Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22 I Mt 1:16, 18- 1, 24a

     St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, patron of workers, has been honored on 19 March since the end of the tenth century. Pope Pius IX declared him Patron of the universal Church in 1870.

1ST READING:     2 Sm 7: 4- Sa, 12- 14a, 16

     But that very night, Yahweh's word came to Nathan, "Go and tell my servant David, this is what Yahweh says.

     "When the time comes for you to rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your son after you, the one born of you and I will make his reign secure. He shall build a house for my name and I will firmly establish his kingship forever. I will be a father to him and he shall be my son.... Your house and your reign shall last forever before me, and your throne shall be firm forever."

GOSPEL READING:     Mt 1: 16, 18- 21, 24a

     Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and from her came Jesus who is called the Christ- the Messiah....

     This is how Jesus Christ was born. Mary his mother had been given to Joseph in marriage but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph, her husband, made plans to divorce her in all secrecy. He was an upright man, and in no way did he want to discredit her.

     While he was pondering over this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She has conceived by the Holy Spirit, and now she will bear a son. You shall call him 'Jesus' for he will save his people from their sins."

REFLECTION

     Our Gospel reading invites us to understand how Joseph was indeed "an

upright man" and a model husband. In our times this bears great significance in the midst of so many marriage-breakups.

     The husband or father is usually considered the head of the family. As head of the family, he makes major decisions for the family: In Paul's letter to the Ephesians, he urges wives "to submit to their husbands, as to the Lord" (Eph 5:22) Paul also urges husbands "to love their wives as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her." (Eph 5: 25)

     Finding Mary with child before they lived together, Joseph considered divorcing her secretly to protect her. An angel of the Lord assured Joseph that Mary was with child by the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph showed his true love for Mary, giving up his own will, and followed the angel's message and agreed to be husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus and head of the Holy Family.

     This difficult act of surrender to show true love is often lacking and causes the break-up of many families.

     Through the example and intercession of St. Joseph, may husbands learn true love for their wives and wives for their husbands. And may we also learn true love for God and our neighbor.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY 

     CHAELDA M. DEL CARMEN

     EDWARD JOSEF D. CASTILLO 

     ERNEST JAMES YU

     JENNILYN L. CORNELIO

     THELMA N. FACTORAN

IN MEMORIAM (†)

     YU TIONG (1921·2002)

OTHER INTENTIONS:

For the eternal repose of the soul of Bernardo Santiago Jr. & Amado Santiago.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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   |  The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the

   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish

   |  distributed free and for personal use only.  

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