Reflection on Today's Readings, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Spouse of Mary, March 19th, 2021
Texts: 2 Sam. 7:4-5a.12-14a.16; Ps 89:2-3.4-5.27.29; Rm. 4: 13.16-18.22; Mtt.1:16.18—21.24a
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Spouse of Mary. This is not the only time we celebrate St. Joseph in the Church. We e also celebrate him as a worker and foster father of Jesus Christ, emphasising his role as patron of workers and teacher of our Lord Jesus Christ. More over it is worthy noting that this year has been announced as the year of St. Joseph. Hence, this year's celebration of St. Joseph as the spouse of Mary has a special character because indulgence is attached to it. Indulgence is granted by the Church. Indulgence is a remission of temporal punishment due to sin of which its guilt has been forgiven through sacramental confession and with fulfilment of certain obligations, mostly prayers. For this year's Solemnity of Saint Joseph we are to fulfil the following obligations to receive the indulgence attached to the celebration:
1. Go to Sacramental Confession and have no attachment to sin.
2. Receive the Holy Communion.
3. Pray for the Pope's Intentions (Usually, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory be...).
4. Pray any of the Church's approved prayer to St. Joseph.
The role of St. Joseph is often seen in the light of his care over Jesus and Mary. Apart from taking care of Jesus Christ and Mary, St. Joseph performed an indispensable role in the history of salvation. The first reading tells us about the promise of God to David. God promised to give David a descendant whose kingdom will continue forever. The promise is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Jesus took His royal descent from Joseph. This royal lineage is rather by adoption than by birth, for Jesus has no biological father on earth. St. Joseph adopted Jesus Christ and gave Him the royal descent of David. Hence, Joseph played a key role in the fulfilment of the promise of God to David.
It was by faith that St. Joseph was able to graft Jesus Christ into David's royal lineage; it was not by law. By law Joseph could not be called just because he did not allow the law to prevail by resolving to send Mary away quietly. St. Joseph could be charged for hiding and abating a criminal. Mary could be said to have been guilty of adultery and blasphemy. Blasphemy, because she said she was conceived of the Holy Spirit. It was by faith that St. Joseph resolved to send Mary away quietly. It was by faith that he is called just.
In Jesus Christ we see our very selves; as Jesus Christ is grafted into the royal lineage of David by the faith of Joseph, so also we are grafted into Abraham's lineage by our faith in Jesus Christ. Hence, in the second reading, St. Paul says, "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". This tells us that we cannot understand our identity as Christians without understanding Jesus Christ; the ignorance of Christ is the ignorance of Christian identity. This is a call to seek the knowledge of Jesus Christ so as to understand our identity; our identity is hidden in Him.
The faith of Abraham is our model of faith. St. Paul tells us about the faith of Abraham thus: "hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations; as he had been told, 'So shall your descendants be '" Abraham's faith is a kind of faith that rest on nothing but God who promised. Even when everything around was against him, he held on to the promise, he believed God who has power to give life to the dead and call into existence what does not exist.
Lord Jesus Christ, inflame our hearts with the love of you that we may seek to know you so as to unravel the mystery of our identity. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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