Friday, March 18, 2005

4:22 pm

DAILY GOSPEL
«Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6,68
    
 
Saturday, 19 March 2005
Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary
Today the Church celebrates : St. Joseph  
 

Saint Bernard : “Joseph, son of David”



2nd book of Samuel 7,4-5.12-14.16.

But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said: "Go, tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: Should you build me a house to dwell in? And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his kingdom firm. It is he who shall build a house for my name. And I will make his royal throne firm forever. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. And if he does wrong, I will correct him with the rod of men and with human chastisements; Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.'"

Psalms 89,2-5.27.29.

The promises of the LORD I will sing forever, proclaim your loyalty through all ages.
For you said, "My love is established forever; my loyalty will stand as long as the heavens.
I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant:
I will make your dynasty stand forever and establish your throne through all ages." Selah
He shall cry to me,'You are my father, my God, the Rock that brings me victory!'
Forever I will maintain my love for him; my covenant with him stands firm.


Letter to the Romans 4,13.16-18.22.

It was not through the law that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants that he would inherit the world, but through the righteousness that comes from faith. For this reason, it depends on faith, so that it may be a gift, and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not to those who only adhere to the law but to those who follow the faith of Abraham, who is the father of all of us, as it is written, "I have made you father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not exist. He believed, hoping against hope, that he would become "the father of many nations," according to what was said, "Thus shall your descendants be." That is why "it was credited to him as righteousness."

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 1,16.18-21.24.

Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Messiah. Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, 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." When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day :

Saint Bernard (1091-1153), Cistercian monk and doctor of the Church
Homily on the “Missus est”, 2, 16

“Joseph, son of David”


There is no doubt that Joseph was a very holy and trustworthy man, since the Mother of the Savior was to be his wife. He was the “faithful and prudent servant” (Mt 24,45), for God established him to be his Mother’s support, the foster father of his flesh, and the assistant for his plan of salvation.

We must recall that he was of the house of David. He was son of David not only by the bond of flesh but also more because of his faith, his holiness and piety. God found in him a second David to whom he could confide in all reassurance his projects, the most hidden. He revealed to him, as to another David, the mysteries of his wisdom and he disclosed him what no teacher in the world knew. He allowed him to see and to listen to things that so many kings and prophets had wished to see and hear but in spite of their desire, had not been able to see or to hear (Mt 13,7); even more, he made him carry, guide, hug, nourish and protect him. Both Mary and Joseph belonged to David’s race; in Mary was accomplished the promise once made by the Lord to David, while Joseph was the witness of this accomplishment.



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