Qua bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, chúng ta được mời gọi để hiểu biết thêm về thánh Giuse. Thánh Giuse thực sự chỉ là một người đàn ông bình thường "và một người chồng mẫu mực. Điều này có một ý nghĩa rất quan trọng trong số rất nhiều cuộc hôn nhân tan vỡ trong thời buổi xã hội hôm nay của chúng ta. Người chồng hoặc người cha thường được coi là người đứng đầu của một gia đình. Là người thường đưa ra các quyết định quan trọng cho gia đình: Trong bức thư của Thánh Phao-lô gởi cho dân thành Ê-phê-sô, ông kêu gọi các bà vợ "vâng lời và phục tùng chồng mình, như Thiên Chúa" (Eph 5:22)
Sự đầu hàng những sư khó khăn này để thể hiện tình yêu đích thực thường thiếu thấy trong xã hội của chúng ta và chính thế mà đã gây ra những sự tan rã của nhiều gia đình. Qua gương sáng và sự cầu bầu của Thánh Giuse, chúng ta xin Thánh Giuse giúp cho những người chồng có thể học được tình yêu chân thật dành cho người vợ của mình và tình yêu chân thật mà người vợ dành cho người chồng của mình. Và xin cho chúng ta cũng có thể học hỏi tình yêu đích thực đối với Thiên Chúa và với người chung quanh của chúng ta
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.
Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary, March 19
When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. Matthew 1:24
What is it that made Saint Joseph so great? He wasn’t immaculately conceived as our Blessed Mother was. He was not divine like Jesus. But he was the head of the Holy Family, its guardian and its provider. He became the legal father of the Savior of the World and the spouse of the Mother of God. But Joseph is not great only because he was given such incredible privileges. First and foremost, he was great because of the choices he made in life. Today’s Gospel refers to him as a “righteous man” and as a man who “did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.” Thus, his greatness is primarily on account of his moral righteousness and obedience to the will of God.
Joseph’s obedience is especially seen in the fact that he obeyed the voice of God given to him in the four dreams recorded in Scripture. In his first dream, Joseph is told “do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20–21). In his second dream, Joseph is told, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him” (Matthew 2:13). In his third dream, Joseph is told, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead” (Matthew 2:20). And in his fourth dream, Joseph is warned to go instead to Galilee rather than Judea (Matthew 2:22).
When these dreams are read in succession, it is clear that Saint Joseph was attentive to the voice of God. We all have dreams, but Joseph’s dreams were different. They were clear communications from God, and they required a willing recipient. Joseph was open to the voice of God and listened in faith as that willing recipient.
Joseph also responded with complete submission and full determination. The commands Joseph received were not insignificant. His obedience required that he and his family travel great distances, take up residence in strange lands and do so all in faith.
It’s also clear that Joseph took his vocation seriously. Pope Saint John Paul II gave him the title “Guardian of the Redeemer.” Over and over, he showed his unwavering commitment to his role as the guardian of his legal Son, Jesus, and of his wife, Mary. His life was spent providing for them, protecting them and offering them a father’s heart.
Reflect, today, upon the unique vocation of Saint Joseph. Ponder, especially, the early years of his marriage and the raising of Jesus. Consider his fatherly commitment to care for, provide for and protect his Son. We all must seek to imitate Saint Joseph’s virtues by protecting the presence of Christ within our own hearts, the hearts of our family and friends and in the world as a whole. Pray to Saint Joseph, asking him to help you follow his example so that the hidden presence of our Lord in our lives will grow and come to full maturation.
Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To you God entrusted his only Son; in you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became man. Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life. Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage, and defend us from every evil. Amen. (Prayer from Patris Corde)
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you invite me to believe in you and trust in you as my loving Father. When I sin, I reject you, your plan, and your love. When I sin, I mistakenly trust in myself. Never let me doubt your love and be separated from you through sin.
1. Joseph’s Role in the History of Salvation: Joseph has an important role in the history of salvation. He is part of the fulfillment of the covenant promises made to Abraham (Second Reading) and David (First Reading). Paul’s Letter to the Romans presents Abraham as the father “of many nations.” Abraham’s universal fatherhood is obtained not through the rite of circumcision or the Law of Moses, but through the righteousness that comes from faith. All who follow the “faith of Abraham” are considered his spiritual descendants. And these, in turn, will share in the covenant promises made to Abraham. Abraham is our father, not according to the flesh, but according to according to faith.
Opening Prayer: Lord, you had a loving earthly father who taught and cared for you. Open my heart to learn from him as I reflect on this episode of Joseph’s life.
Joseph’s Discernment: How did Joseph discern that the dream he had was from God? Most of us awakening from a dream would not think, “Now I know what God is asking of me.” Yet, Joseph discerned, then acted upon, his dream, promptly and obediently. Pope Francis has declared a “Year of St. Joseph,” from December 8, 2020, through December 8, 2021, In his declaration, he noted that in all of the dreams through which God spoke to Joseph, “Joseph declared his own ‘fiat,’ like those of Mary at the Annunciation and Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.” (Patris Corde # 3) So often we reflect upon the “yes” of Mary, but Joseph also offered his “yes” to God. We didn’t hear his audible “yes.” His affirmation of what God was asking of him came through prompt, obedient action.
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