Saint Joseph, like his holy bride Mary, was of David’s lineage and therefore also of royal blood.

Invitation

May I draw your attention to the daily reading of the Gospel?

This invitation is intended to share with you the joy
of the Gospel. Everyone, without exception,
can experience that joy by opening their heart
to the healing power of God’s word.

Available every day

Consideration
The image we have of Saint Joseph has been somewhat distorted over time. We think of him as someone who stood in Mary’s shadow. Many believe he only played a ‘supporting role’. Are we not doing this beautiful figure an injustice? Joseph’s role in the history of salvation is exceptional. His fatherly role in the life of Jesus should not be underestimated. Allowing God to work discreetly in your life, even if it causes difficulties, is a fundamental attitude that every believer should adopt. Letting God into your daily life: is there a better path to salvation? Remaining in the background and yet being great in faith. Is that not what many simple-hearted people try to do? Taking care of those entrusted to you and seeing this as a divine mission: this is what honours Joseph.

FIRST READING                2  Sam. 7:4-5a, 12-14a,16

The Lord God 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 the prophet Nathan:
“Say to my servant David:
Thus says the Lord:
When your days are fulfilled
and you rest with your fathers,
I will raise up your offspring
and establish his kingdom.
He shall build a house for my name,
and I will establish his royal throne
forever.
I will be his father, and he shall be my son.
Thus your house and your royal power
shall endure forever;
your throne shall be established forever.”

INTERLUDIUM                    Ps. 89(88), 2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29

His descendants will remain forever.

I will sing of your favours, Lord,
proclaim your faithfulness to every generation.
You have said: My favour shall endure forever,
the heavens are the foundation of my faithfulness.

I have made a covenant with David,
my chosen servant, with an oath:
I will preserve your descendants forever,
your throne shall endure for all time.

He will call upon me: You are my Father,
my God, the rock of my salvation.
He can count on my mercy forever,
my covenant with him will remain in force forever.

SECOND READING                       Rom. 4, 13, 16-18, 22

Against all hope, he hoped.

From the letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Christians of Rome

Brothers and sisters,

The promise to Abraham and his descendants
that they would inherit the world
is not based on the law
but on the righteousness of faith.
Therefore, it depends on faith
and thus on grace
and the promise is assured for all descendants,
not only for those who have received the law
but for all who follow the faith
of our father Abraham.
For it is written of him:
“I have made you the father of many nations.”
He is this before God,
in whom he believed,
who gives life to the dead
and calls into being what does not exist.
Against all hope, he hoped
and believed that he would become the father of many nations,
as he had been told:
“So numerous will your descendants be.”
Therefore, it was credited to him as righteousness.

VERSES BEFORE THE GOSPEL                     Ps. 84(83), 5

Alleluia.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house, O Lord,
who may praise you there forever.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL                            Mt. 1, 16, 18-21, 24a

Joseph did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.

From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Matthew

Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary,
and from 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 was found, before they came to live together,
to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
Because Joseph, her husband, was a righteous man
and did not want to disgrace her,
he thought about
divorcing her quietly.
While he was considering this,
an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream
and said to him:
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife;
the child she carries is from the Holy Spirit.
She will give birth to a son, whom you shall name Jesus,
for he will save his people from their sins.”
When Joseph awoke from sleep,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him.

Laudato Si

Encyclical of

POPE FRANCIS

On Care for Our Common Home

61. The Church does not have the task of making definitive proposals on many concrete issues and understands that it must listen to an honest debate among scientists and promote it with respect for differences of opinion. One need only look at reality to see that there has been a great deterioration of our common home.
Hope invites us to recognise that there is always a way out,
that we can always change course, that we can always do something to solve the problems.
However, it seems that we are not taking sufficient action to address the problems.
Hope invites us to recognise that there is always a way out,
that we can always change course, that we can always do something
to solve the problems. However, given the rapid pace of change and decline, it seems to have reached a decisive breaking point
that is becoming apparent in regional natural disasters as well as in social
and financial crises, since the world’s problems cannot be analysed or explained in isolation. There are regions that are already particularly at risk and, regardless of any catastrophic predictions, it is certain that the current global system, viewed from various perspectives, is unsustainable because we have ceased to consider the purposes of human action: “If we look at different areas of our planet, we immediately notice that humanity is destroying the environment and the natural world.
because we have ceased to think about the purposes of human action:
“When we look at different areas of our planet,
it is immediately apparent that humanity has disappointed divine expectations.”

To be continued
Every day at 1 am.

 

The Bible text in this edition is taken fromThe New Bible Translation,
©Nederlands Bijbelgenootschap 2004/2007.
Reflections from Liturgical suggestions for weekdays and Sundays
Laudato Si Official English translation