St Joseph, Spouse of Our Lady | 19 March

Today is Friday the 19 March, the feast of St Joseph, Spouse of Our Lady, in the fourth week of Ordinary time.    

The nuns of Mary, Queen of Apostles, sing the hymn Te Joseph Celebrent:  O Joseph, may the heavenly hosts praise thee, may the choirs of Christendom glorify you.  

Matt 1:16,18-21,24

and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah. Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife...

Today is the feast day of St Joseph, the spouse of Our Lady. Pope Francis has dedicated this year to the patronage of St Joseph. “the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence,” who nonetheless played “an incomparable role in the history of salvation.” It is interesting that Joseph never speaks in the gospel yet his place in Jesus’ life was irreplaceable. Take a moment to consider, and give thanks for, the quiet people in your life.  

Perhaps, as happens with many people, I think of Joseph the carpenter, the worker - identifying him by what he does rather than who he is. Maybe I have been guilty of this with people I see every day? The role rather than the person?  

Listening to the reading again, what may I learn about the ‘who’ of Joseph? How may I develop this ‘holy listening’ to connect with the ‘who’ of the people around me?  

In a moment of prayer ask the Lord for the guidance you seek.  

You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.