For every day during Lent, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click HERE for the readings.
We have two possible Gospel readings for today. One is from the Gospel of Matthew, the other from the Gospel of Luke. Both make it clear that St. Joseph is involved from the very beginning with the life of Jesus, his adopted son.
God chose Mary to be the mother of his only Son. In choosing her, God also chose St. Joseph, her betrothed, knowing that he would be a worthy human father-figure for Jesus.
In his letter announcing the Year of St. Joseph from 2020-2021, Pope Francis called St. Joseph, “a father in the shadows.” Referencing a Polish writer, Jan Dobrazyński, Pope Francis said, “In his relationship to Jesus, Joseph was the earthly shadow of the heavenly Father: he watched over him and protected him, never leaving him to go his own way . . . Joseph acted as a father for his whole life.”
Not many details are known about the life of St. Joseph, but our faith tells us that he was the chaste husband of Mary, the defender of his family, and the teacher of Jesus in the ways of Jewish ritual, manhood and carpentry.
In his letter for the Year of St. Joseph, Pope Francis said, “Each of us can discover in Joseph – the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence – an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble. St. Joseph reminds us that those who appear hidden or in the shadows can play an incomparable role in the history of salvation. A word of recognition and of gratitude is due to them all.”
Who is that person (or those people) who did not get large publicity for their faith and goodness, but who sustained you, protected you and taught you the ways of our faith?
St. Joseph. Pray for us.