Saint Joseph, like his holy wife Mary, was of the
tribe of David and therefore of royal blood.
Invitation
May I draw your attention to
The daily reading of the Gospel
This invitation seeks to convey the joy
of the Gospel. Everyone, without exception
can experience that joy by opening his or her heart
to the healing power of the Word of God.
Available every day
Consideration
The image we have of St Joseph has become distorted over time. We see him as someone who was somewhat in Mary’s shadow. Many see him only as someone with “a subordinate role”. In doing so, are we not doing an injustice to this wonderful figure? Joseph’s role in salvation history is exceptional. His role as a father in the life of Jesus should not be underestimated. Letting God act discreetly in your life, even if it causes you difficulties, is a basic attitude that should belong to every believer. Allowing God into your daily life: is there a better way to salvation? Staying in the background yet being great in faith: isn’t that what many naive people try to do? Caring for those entrusted to your care and seeing in them a divine mission: That pleases Joseph.
FIRST READING 2 Sam. 7, 4-5a.12-14a.16
God, the Lord, will give him the throne of his father David (Lk 1:32).
From the second book of Samuel
In those days
the word of the Lord came to Nathan, the prophet:
“Say to my servant David :
Thus says the Lord:
When your days are ended
and you rest with your fathers
I will exalt your offspring whom you have begotten,
I will exalt him on high and maintain his royal power.
“He shall build a house in honour of my name
And I will uphold his royal throne
I will uphold him forever.
“I will be his father and he will be my son.
“So his house and his royal power will
endure forever;
your throne will stand firm forever.”
INTERLUDIUM Ps 89(88), 2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29
His progeny will endure forever.
Your favours, O Lord, I want to sing,
To proclaim Your faithfulness to all generations.
You have said, My favour endures for ever,
heaven is the foundation of my faithfulness.
I have made a covenant with David
I have sworn with an oath to My chosen servant:
I will uphold your descendants forever
I will uphold your throne throughout the ages.
He will call upon me: You are my Father,
my God, the rock of my salvation.
Forever he will be able to count on my mercy,
my covenant with him will endure forever.
SECOND READING Rom. 4, 13.16-18.22
Against all hope, he hoped.
From the letter of the holy apostle Paul to the Christians in Rome
Brothers and sisters,
The promise to Abraham and his descendants
that they would inherit the world
was not based on the law
but on the righteousness of faith.
Therefore it depends on faith
and therefore on grace
and the promise is secured for all descendants,
not only for those who have received the law
but for all who follow the faith
of our father Abraham.
After all, of him it is written :
“I have made thee a father of many nations”.
That is he before the face of God,
in whom he believed,
who brings to life the dead
and brings to life what does not exist.
Against all hope, he has hoped
and believed that he would become the father of many nations,
as it was said to him:
“So numerous shall thy posterity be”.
Therefore, it was imputed to him as righteousness.
VERS FOR THE GOSPEL Ps. 84(83), 5
Alleluia.
Blessed are those who dwell in Your house, O Lord,
who can praise You there always.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mt 1:16,18-21,24a
Joseph did what the angel of the Lord told him to do.
From the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Matthew
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary,
and to her was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
The birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way:
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph
she appeared to him, before they went to live together, pregnant with the Holy Spirit.
pregnant with the Holy Spirit.
Joseph, her husband, was righteous
and did not want to compromise her
he considered
divorcing her.
While she was contemplating this
an angel of the Lord appeared to her in a dream
who said to him:
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife;
The child she carries in her womb is of the Holy Spirit.
“She will bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus,
for he shall save his people from their sins.”
Awakened from sleep
Joseph did what the angel of the Lord told him to do.
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Laudato Si
Encyclic by
POPE FRANCIS
On the care of the common home
231. Love, which is full of small gestures of mutual love, also concerns civil and political life and is manifested in all actions that seek to build a better world. Love for society and commitment to the common good are an excellent form of charity, which concerns not only relations between people, but also “macro-relationships, social, economic and political relations”. This is why the Church has presented the world with the ideal of a “civilisation of love”. Social love is the key to authentic development: “To make society more human and dignified, it is necessary to revalue love in social life – at the political, economic and cultural levels – and make it the constant and highest standard of action”. In this context, social love, along with the importance of small daily gestures, compels us to devise grand strategies that effectively stop environmental degradation and promote a culture of care that permeates all of society. When a person recognises God’s call to intervene in this social dynamic with others, he should remember that this is part of his spirituality, that it is a practice of charity, and that in this way he matures and is sanctified.
To be continued
The Bible text in this issue is from The New Translation of the Bible,
Netherlands Bible Society 2004/2007.
Reflections on liturgical suggestions for the week and on Sundays
Laudato Si Official English translation
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