REFLECTIONS TODAY
Joseph is described as a righteous man. His righteousness is not manifested by his strict adherence to the Law of Moses that would make him expose Mary’s pregnancy.
Instead, he exercises understanding and mercy despite of a mixture of anger, confusion, and sadness at what happened. He chooses to divorce Mary quietly to save her from the punishment for adultery—death.
The Lord saves Joseph from quandary by revealing through an angel in a dream that Mary is carrying the Messiah to whom he is to be a father, guardian, and a protector.
One will know the true character of a person when he is stressed and in crisis. Sadly, we hardly see Joseph’s kind of character nowadays. How many of us will respond in the same way Joseph did in times of our own crisis?
Will you be like Joseph who will choose mercy over vengeance? Joseph is truly a perfect fit to be the foster and legal father of Jesus because he possesses God’s character of mercy. That is why it is not surprising that Jesus would grow not just to be a carpenter like Joseph but like him in character: to be just and merciful. As we prepare for the Holy Week in the midst of confusion and suffering, let us try to Imitate Joseph who guided Jesus with a heart of a father.
First Reading • 2 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16
The Lord spoke to Nathan and said: “Go, tell my servant David, ‘When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his kingdom firm.
It is he who shall build a house for my name. And I will make his royal throne firm forever. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.’ ”
Gospel • Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a [or Luke 2:41-51a]
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.