19 Mar
Tue
St Joseph, husband of the BVM
2 Sam. 7:4-5a,12-14a,16
Ps. 89:2-3,4-5, 27,29
Rom. 4:13,16-18,22
Mt. 1:16,18-21,24a or Lk. 2:41-51a
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Home Page of Shalom
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We know little about Joseph. What we have in the Gospels does not give much information. Matthew sets the record straight about the birth of Jesus. He is born of Mary through the Holy Spirit. Joseph has to come to terms with the situation, and is told by a revelation that he has a role in the new family.

He was trusted by Mary and by God, and was found suitable for the task he was given. Firmness in faith before God is a virtue desired in all Christians. Joseph learns to believe and adapt himself to the varied calls of God. He is one who dies to self in his complete submission to God's will. He is the silent one in the Scriptures; we have no recorded words of his. He works no miracles, leaves no memorial. He resembles completely the generality of Christians.

Since he appears no more in the later Gospel story, he is presumed to have died with Mary and Jesus at his side, and so is a patron for the dying. But in the long run his greatest praise is simply in saying that he is "that just man, that wise and loyal servant, whom you placed at the head of your family".



God our Father, help us to accept our 'daily routine' in the same spirit of abandonment as Joseph did.

DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
For the ecclesial organisations and groups engaged in social action, that in their testimony they may proclaim strongly and consistently the Gospel of Love.
Elaboration

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P R A Y I N G    W I T H    T H E    C H U R C H    

INTENTION : For the ecclesial organisations and groups engaged in social action, that in their testimony they may proclaim strongly and consistently the Gospel of Love.

It is the Church's desire that all social-charitable initiatives might always be inspired, in their implementation, by the immutable principles of the Gospel. There is danger, however, that professional organisations engaged in the social field risk losing the fundamental motivation for their existence: that is bearing witness to Christ's charity which the Church has the duty to communicate and to share with others.

In order to be effective, then, continual spiritual formation is needed for voluntary co-operators who wish to devote themselves to social action. All these initiatives tend to develop the awareness that the foundation and centre of our action is Christ, in whom the God of love revealed himself and gave himself to men and women. Consequently all those who welcome Christ follow him and answer the call to be faithful witnesses to it. This awareness must totally imbue the hearts and minds of individuals so that it also inspires the Communities they set up for organised action in support of underprivileged persons and communities suffering from material and moral poverty.

Being thus imbued and formed it becomes necessary that volunteers pray to draw Christ into their midst and have him accompany them.




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