Catholic Daily Reading + Reflection, 19th March 2022
Saturday March 19, 2022 – Catholic Daily Mass Readings
ST JOSEPH, HUSBAND OF B.V.M (SOLEMNITY)
Office – Proper, Te Deum
Mass prop., Gloria. Creed
Preface of St Joseph
Vestment: White
Today’s Rosary: Joyful Mystery
Vespers I of 3rd Sunday of Lent
FIRST SCRUTINY (3rd Sunday of Lent)
Death Anniversary: SOKOTO: BISHOP MICHAEL DEMPSEY, 19/03/1996
Theme Of The Feast:
JOSEPH, A MAN ENCHANTED BY THE DREAMS OF GOD.
The first reading proclaims an everlasting kingdom and how God has decided to grant it to a “son of David.” The Gospel proclaims the accomplishment of the promise made to David: One of his descendants has fulfilled the words of Nathan beyond all expectations. The second reading speaks of Abraham, the man who placed his trust in God. Like Abraham, Joseph too believed that the dreams of God would be fulfilled. Abraham and Joseph prove that whoever puts their trust in God will never be disappointed.
GLORIA
FIRST READING
The Lord God will give to him the throne of his father, David” (Lk 1:32).
A reading from the second Book of Samuel (2 Samuel 7:4-5a.12—14a. 16)
In those days: The word of the Lord came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever. ‘ “
The word of the Lord
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 89:2-3.4-5.27 and 29 (R. 37a)
R/. His descendants shall continue for ever.
I will sing forever of your mercies, O Lord;
through all ages my mouth
will proclaim your fidelity.
I have declared your mercy is established forever;
your fidelity stands firm as the heavens. R/.
“With my chosen one I have made a covenant;
I have sworn to David my servant:
I will establish your descendants forever,
and set up your throne through all ages.” R/.
“He will call out to me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the rock of my salvation.’
I will keep my faithful love for him always;
with him my covenant shall last.” R/.
SECOND READING
“In hope he believed against hope.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans (Romans 4: 13.16-18.22)
Brethren: The promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should inherit the world, did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. That is why all depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants — not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, for he is the father of us all, as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations” — in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations; as he had been told, “So shall your descendants be.” That is why his faith was “reckoned to him as righteousness.”
The word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation Psalm 84:4
Glory and praise to you, O Christ. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, O Lord, ever singing your praise! Glory and praise to you, O Christ
GOSPEL
“Joseph did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 1:16, 18—21, 24a)
Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to send her away quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
THE CREED (I Believe)
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
ST. JOSEPH (Joseph did what the Lord told him to do.)
PRIEST: My brothers and sisters, Saint Joseph is one of the great saints of the Church, and, in union with him, we pray to the Lord for special graces for the Church and world.
READER: For the Church, (pause) may she always guide and teach her people so that they may grow in faith like Saint Joseph, the guardian and tutor of Jesus. (pause) In your mercy, Lord; teach us to be holy we pray Oh Lord.
For all husbands and fathers everywhere, (pause) may their love for their wives and children be a sign to the world of their Christian calling, and of the sublime dignity of family life. (pause) In your mercy, Lord; teach us to be holy we pray Oh Lord.
For the fathers of one-parent families, (pause) may they overcome their difficulties and be given the moral strength and grace to bring up their children in Christian love and faith. (pause) In your mercy, Lord; teach us to be holy we pray Oh Lord.
For all artisans, (pause) may they see in the person of St. Joseph the perfect example of a craftsman whose work was done for the benefit of his family, and for the glory of God. (pause) In your mercy, Lord; teach us to be holy we pray Oh Lord.
We pray in silence for our own petitions to God, who loves and guards us.
PRIEST: Father, in union with St. Joseph, we make our prayers in the name of the Church. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
Whenever we take a closer look at the person of Joseph, the husband of Mary, we soon realise that we tend to take St. Joseph for granted not because we like to ignore him but because we naturally assume Jesus being God deserves all the attention.
There are lot of lessons to learn from this great man, Joseph, some of which we would now try to itemize:
1. ST. JOSEPH WAS A JUST MAN. The Bible refers to Joseph as a just man. This means he was a man of integrity. He was well respected in the community. He had a good name. He was a man of justice. He was not a wayward person and he believed in doing what is right at all times. Can it be said about me that I am a just person? Do I practice selective integrity?
2. ST. JOSEPH DID NOT TAKE JOY IN SEEING THE PAIN OF OTHERS. St. Joseph was unwilling to put Mary to shame despite learning of her pregnancy before they came to be together as husband and wife. When I happen to suspect others of doing wrong, what is my immediate reaction? Do I keep things to myself or begin to gossip and announce to others?
3. ST. JOSEPH WAS OBEDIENT TO GOD AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. We are told that when Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the Angel of the Lord had commanded him. He agreed to play the role of a foster father to the Son of God. This meant that he agreed to live as a celibate for the rest of his life for the sake of Jesus Christ. His own form of celibacy would even be more demanding given that unlike other celibates, he would have to live in the same house with a woman not related to him. Can I make sacrifice for God? Am I only interested in what I can get from God rather than what I should give to God? Am I faithful to the demands of my calling in life? Do I keep my vows and promises to God?
4. ST. JOSEPH WAS A MAN OF FAITH. It takes great faith to agree to do what Joseph did for Jesus and Mary. Do you notice that God only spoke to him through dreams? Unlike the case of Mary and Zechariah who had an Angel appear to them in broad day, Joseph had to depend on his dreams.
It takes great faith to believe that what we see in our dreams is not simply a figment of our imagination. It takes Faith to believe that a young woman would actually conceive without knowing a man. Do I put a limit in my mind to what God can do? Do I really believe that with God, all things are possible? Am I willing to act based on what God reveals to me daily through my study of the scriptures?
PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL FOR LENT DAY 17
Pride, they say, goes before a fall and the more we try to rise without God, the more we get to our destination realising that we have done an exercise in futility. The way up, is down; and Jesus showed us that example when he humbled Himself and took our form in order to redeem us. (Phil 2:6-11) If we must be Christians after the mind of Christ, we must resolve to humble ourselves in words and action and do things the Jesus’ way.
Today, resolve to act humbly by speaking kindly to those who work with you and if possible give them a helping hand to do the things you would have barked or yelled at them to do.
Let us Pray:
Lord Jesus, give me a very large heart, purge away from me all bitterness, all past pains, all hatred and all forms of evil intentions against others. Amen.