Lenten Meditations – Monday 19th March

Mar 19, 2018 by

 

Mon
Mar 19
am: 89:1-18
pm: 89:19-52
2 Sam 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16 Rom 7:1-12 Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a

FIFTH MONDAY OF LENT – St. Joseph, Spouse of the Virgin Mary, Foster Father of Jesus

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: In the gospel of Matthew, Joseph is depicted as a good man, a working carpenter, who trusted in God. He received God’s messenger who shared with him God’s will for him and for Mary, to whom he was engaged to be married. Luke’s gospel describes how Joseph took the new-born child as if he were his own. He was with Mary when, on the fortieth day after the birth, Jesus was presented in the Temple, ‘where every first-born male is designated as holy to the Lord’. The adoption of Jesus by Joseph also established Jesus in the descent of David, to accord with the prophecy that Israel’s deliverer would be of the House and lineage of David.

 

MEDITATION OF THE DAY: The Psalm today is a valuable one as it highlights the psalmist continued trust and worship of Almighty God. This after some seemingly difficult times in his life. In some respects, it sounds a bit like the life of Joseph, foster father of Jesus and spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He had feelings of loss betrayal and confusion at the very least as he is faced with facing the fact that his betrothed is with child and he is not not the father of record. Let us note that amidst his confused heart and the possibility of punishment by authorities, he accepted God’s Covenant as His will. He took Mary for his wife and became father to Jesus. Such is the kind of faith that we should all have as he looked to God wondering where the power of the Covenant has gone for him. He is a faithful Jew and follows the Torah. How could all of this be. Nonetheless, in the midst of deep confusion and suffering, Joseph calls upon the Lord to sustain him to fulfill his word but also to fulfills God’s plan through him .

Week 5 of Lent is perhaps a timely moment to consider this Psalm as it encourages us on our journey to call upon the Lord letting him know all of our plans and hopes for all we are and all we ever hope to be. We, like Joseph have the opportunity to hope in the Lord and be steadfast on our journey, hoping that we will also be a beneficiary of his promises.

PRAYER OF THE DAY: O God, who from the family of your servant David raised up Joseph to be the guardian of your incarnate Son and the spouse of his virgin mother: Give us grace to imitate his uprightness of life and his obedience to your commands; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

ANCIENT WORDS/PRESENT GRACE: Joseph exercised his role as protector discreetly, humbly and silently, and with an unfailing presence and utter fidelity, even when he finds it hard to understand. – Francis I, Bishop of Rome

 

Lenten Discipline Turn off your car radio and/mp3/CD player as you travel in your car today. Use this time for quiet reflection on your role as a parent or the role parents have had in your life. How does this affect your living out your Christian witness?

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