Joseph comes from the House of David. he is a man of few words.

It was prophesied that the Messiah would be from the stock of David.

In his silence, Joseph participated in God’s salvific plan with full humility.

Joseph shows a submissive stance to the will of God.

During this Lenten Season, let us be silent as we continue to contemplate on the mystery of the passion of the Lord.

Let us give space for the Lord to speak to us and be docile to His will as in the example of Joseph.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

1st Reading: 2 Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14а, 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 forever firm."

 

Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29 The son of David will live forever.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

 Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22

If God promised Abraham, or rather his descendants, that the world would belong to him, this was not because of his obeying the law, but because he was just, and a friend of God, through faith. For that reason, faith is the way, and all is given, by grace; and the promises of Abraham are fulfilled for all his descendants, not only for his children according to the law, but, also, for all the others, who have believed. Abraham is the father of all of us, as it is written:

 

I will make you the father of many nations. He is our father, in the eyes of Him, who gives life to the dead, and calls into existence what does not yet exist, for this is the God in whom he believed. Abraham believed, and hoped against all expectation, thus, becoming the father of many nations, as he had been told: See how many will be your descendants. This was taken into account, for him to attain righteousness.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Gospel: Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a (or Luke 2:41-51a)

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 disgrace 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."

When Joseph awoke, he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

Reflection:

"Being a righteous man."

St. Joseph is known to be an upright and discerning man. In a time of confusion, his endearing quality as an upright man would all the more shine because he would discern well rather than outrightly condemn. After learning about the situation of Mary, the woman who was already given to him in marriage, Joseph wisely decided not to disgrace her.

 

Joseph thought of divorcing Mary quietly after the latter was found to be pregnant. Joseph discerned well in view of protecting Mary. His righteousness went beyond the law of Moses that prescribed stoning to death a betrothed woman if she was found to having an affair with another man (cf. Dt. 22:23-24). Humanly speaking, though it was clear that Mary's pregnancy was through the Holy Spirit, one may still wonder about the confusion the said situation must have brought to Joseph.

 

Yet, Joseph's righteousness remained intact even amidst confusion. The truly righteous person is the one who all the more listens to the promptings of the Spirit when facing a difficult situation.