SAINT JOSEPH, HUSBAND OF MARY, March 19, Solemnity

I Reading: 2 Sam 7:4-5.12-14.16

II Reading: Rom 4:13.16-18.22

Gospel: Matthew 1:16.18-21.24

We celebrate today the feast of Saint Joseph under the title “husband of Mary”. It is a recent feast; though extended to the whole Church some five hundred years ago, it was only during the last hundred and fifty years that it gradually acquired importance it has today. On this feast we praise God for having led Joseph to the totally faithful to Jesus and Mary, thus contributing wonderfully to God’s plans in saving the world. The Gospel speaks so little about Joseph when narrating the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt. His name appears twice in the Gospel of John, but only to identify Jesus as “son of Joseph” (Jn 1:45; 6:42).

The readings of today discover where the true greatness of Saint Joseph lies:

1.     A prophecy of Natan about a descendant from David.

2.     Faith in God, expressed n humble obedience, made Joseph truly great.

a.     He was a just man, an upright, straight forward person, honest with God and with his neighbour.

b.    He accepted Mary and loved her and took care of her as God’s command.

c.      Whereas people thought he was an ordinary worker or carpenter but in the eyes of God he was a humble and obedient and a just person.

d.    He obeyed always God’s plan and listened to God’s commands.

3.     The Matthew Gospel narrates two sentences worth remarking:

I.                  First the words of the angel: “Do not be afraid...”

II.               Secondly, the concluding words of today’s Gospel: “Joseph did as the angel had told him to do; he took his wife to his home (Mt 1:24).

Thought: Because of this humble submission to God’s plans, he was chosen from among all Israelites. The lesson of Joseph should not be lost to us: neither education, nor wealth, power nor position makes a person really great but we are great when we strive to discover God’s plans for us and try to realize them inspite of human weakness.

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WEDNESDAY, FOURTH WEEK OF LENT- YEAR-B

I Reading: Isaiah 49:8-15: I have appointed you as covenant of the people to restore the land.

Gospel: John 5:17-30: As the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son gives life to anyone he chooses.

The Astounding Authority: Equality with God

All people have to face this earth shaking, shattering claim of Christ. He made the astounding claim that the authority belonged to him. How could he make such an astounding claim? Because he proclaimed that he possessed authority with God and then he proceeded to give proof after proof which unequivocally verified his claim.

1.     Jesus proclaimed equality with God (v.17-18)

a.     His claim: My Father

b.    His claim clearly understood

2.     Proof 1: His obedience (v.19)

a.     He did not act alone

b.    He did exactly what he saw the Father do

3.     Proof 2: His great works (v.20)

a.     God loves his Son

b.    God shows Him what to do

4.     Proof 3: His power to quicken, to give life, to raise up the dead (v.21)

5.     Proof 4: His control over the whole judicial process (v.22-23)

a.     Purpose: that all may honour the Son

b.    Fact: If Christ is not honoured, God is not honoured

6.     Proof 5: His power over man’s destiny, to save man from death to life (v.24-25)

a.     How men are saved

1.     Hearing His Word

2.     Believing that God sent His Son, Jesus

b.    Result: Eternal life

c.      Facts

1.     The spiritually dead can hear the voice of God’s Son –now

2.     The spiritually dead can live – now

7.     Proof 6: His energy of life, His self-existence

8.     Proof 7: His authority to execute judgement

9.     Proof 8: His claim to be the Son of Man (v.27)

10.                         Proof 9: His power to resurrect all men from the grave (v.28-30)

a.     people who have done good: Resurrected to life

b.    people who have done evil: Resurrected to condemnation

c.      the judgement: will be a just judgement

Thought: Two critical facts about the resurrection:

1.     There is to be a resurrection of all who have believed and obeyed the Lord Jesus (Jn 5:25; 6:40; 11:25; 1Cor 15:22; Ps 49:15; Hosea 13:14).

2.     There is to be not only a resurrection of believers but also a resurrection of all those who have rejected and disobeyed the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn 5:28-29; Acts 24:15; Dan12:2).

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