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| “The Dream of St Joseph” by Georges de La Tour, c. 1640 |
Reading 1: 2
Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16
The Lord spoke to Nathan and
said:
“Go, tell my servant David,
‘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.
Your house and your kingdom
shall endure forever before me;
your throne shall stand firm
forever.’”
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Commentary on 2
Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16
Within the historical books
of the Old Testament (1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra,
Nehemiah, 1 and 2 Maccabees), this passage is considered to have the most
theological significance. Nathan’s
Oracle – the establishment of the dynasty of King David marks the beginning of
the understanding of royal messianism, our first hint of the Messiah to come.
In this passage, Nathan is
told by God to tell David that, while he would not build the Temple
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm
89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29
R. (37) The son of David will live for ever.
The promises of the Lord I
will sing forever;
through all generations my
mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness,
For you have said, "My
kindness is established forever";
in heaven you have confirmed
your faithfulness.
R. The son of David will
live for ever.
"I have made a covenant
with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my
servant:
Forever will I confirm your
posterity
and establish your throne for
all generations."
R. The son of David will
live for ever.
"He shall say of me,
'You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.'
Forever I will maintain my
kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him
stands firm."
R. The son of David will
live for ever.
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Commentary on Ps
89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29
Though Psalm 89 is a lament,
this first section is prophetic and reiterates God’s promise of the Davidic
Dynasty. It is likely this hymn was
sung, entreating God and reminding the people of the covenant established with
David to “…establish your throne for all generations.”
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Reading II: Romans
4:13, 16-18, 22
Brothers and sisters:
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.
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Commentary on Rom
4:13, 16-18, 22
In this address
to the Romans, St. Paul
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Gospel: Matthew
1:16, 18-21, 24a
Jacob was the father of
Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is
called the Christ.
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.
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Commentary on Mt
1:16, 18-21, 24a
This section of
the Nativity Narrative from St. Matthew’s Gospel tells the story of Joseph’s
dilemma. He is required by Mosaic Law to
file a petition of divorce in front of witnesses. He has resigned himself to this course of
action when he has a dream in which an angel came to him and told him of the
origins of the child Mary bore. For his
part, Joseph accepted the message and did as the Lord commanded. (See also
commentary on Matthew 1: 18-25)
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Or: Luke
2:41-51a
Each year Jesus’ parents went
to Jerusalem
and when he was twelve years
old,
they went up according to
festival custom.
After they had completed its
days, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus remained behind
in Jerusalem
but his parents did not know
it.
Thinking that he was in the
caravan,
they journeyed for a day
and looked for him among
their relatives and acquaintances,
but not finding him,
they returned to Jerusalem
After three days they found
him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the
teachers,
listening to them and asking
them questions,
and all who heard him were
astounded
at his understanding and his
answers.
When his parents saw him,
they were astonished,
and his mother said to him,
“Son, why have you done this
to us?
Your father and I have been
looking for you with great anxiety.”
And he said to them,
“Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must
be in my Father’s house?”
But they did not understand
what he said to them.
He went down with them and
came to Nazareth
and was obedient to them.
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Commentary on Lk
2:41-51a
From the Gospel
of St. Luke we have the story of Jesus in the Temple
This story is at odds with the Apocryphal Gospels (such as the Gospel
of St. Thomas) that attributed to Jesus many miracles during his early years,
this story paints his childhood as fairly normal, the implication based on
Joseph and Mary’s reaction is that they, at this point, do not completely
understand their son’s mission.
With reference to St. Joseph Nazareth
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Reflection:
The options for the Gospel
readings give us both ends of Joseph’s involvement in the life of Christ and
two different images to ponder. The dots are all connected in terms of
salvation history tumbling down from Abraham to David to Joseph. We are all
part of the drama that unfolds as the Messiah is born and raised by earthly
parents as true man, born of woman.
Of all the roles played by
God’s instruction in Christ’s life, St. Joseph is least mentioned, but, like
the cotter pin that holds together two great weights, his understated presence
is critical to fulfilling the prophecy. He is, as we hear in Matthew of the
line of David, he continues, through his foster son, Jesus the messianic
promise.
His role for us is one of the
persons who, in spite of social pressure does the right thing, without fanfare,
in all humility, he does what God asks. He is the faithful father who works in
obscurity to provide for his family. His contribution to the whole may only be
seen by inference. The son he helped to raise fulfilled His destiny, as bitter
sweet as that was.
One of the things that sets
Catholics apart from our protestant brethren is we have a strong affinity to
the saints. They have a difficult time understanding. If you are ever asked;
“Why do you pray to Mary (or Joseph, or Cyril, etc.)” your first answer should
be; “We don’t. We pray for them to intercede for us, but we pray only to God
through Christ.”
We look to the saints for a
couple of reasons. The first of these is for the reason mentioned above,
intercession. We believe that people recognized by the Church in the Communion
of Saints have a special place in heaven (this is supported by scripture). And
because of their unique status, having places of honor in the Kingdom of Heaven
The second reason we have
such reverence for the Saints is they provide us with examples of faith that
are real to us. We can understand a St.
Joseph
We love what Pope John Paul
the Great said of St. Joseph in his Daily
Meditations; “What emanates from the figure of Saint Joseph
Today we end with the prayer
of St. Joseph
Almighty God, You entrusted to the faithful care of
Joseph the beginnings of the mysteries of man's salvation. Through his
intercession may Your Church and her new Pontiff always be faithful in her
service so that Your designs will be fulfilled. Amen.
Pax
In other years: Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent
[1]
The picture used is “The Dream of St Joseph” by Georges de La Tour, c. 1640
[2]
ALTRE
[3]
The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the
Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for
English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and
is for private use only.
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