HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF SAINT JOSEPH, SPOUSE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (1)

HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF SAINT JOSEPH, SPOUSE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

HOMILY THEME: PARENTAL DUTIES TO THEIR CHILDREN

BY: Fr Benny Tuazon

 

HOMILY:

(Mt.1:26-24)
Feast of St. Joseph, the Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In the day’s Gospel Matthew recounts the circumstances of the birth of Jesus. It was prophesied that the Messiah will come from the lineage of David. Preceding this Gospel was the genealogy of Jesus. It is interesting to note that the prophesy was fulfilled in Jesus who had Joseph standing as His father. Joseph, whose father was Jacob, came from the lineage of David.

But Joseph’s role was not only limited to being the link to David. While he doubted Mary who conceived of the Holy Spirit, the visit from the angel was enough to convince him that it was the will of God to marry Mary. Joseph obeyed in and with faith. In the process, Jesus was born. Joseph and Mary fulfilled their parental duties to Jesus. Jesus grew up in wisdom and strength. Jesus grew to be a good Jew. Joseph was a good father and provider. Matthew assessed him as a just man.

The images of St. Joseph with the child Jesus depicts the relationship of the father and Son. In those images, St. Joseph looks at Jesus always. It gives the message that St. Joseph took responsibility of the rearing of the child Jesus. God entrusted Jesus to Joseph. Joseph treasured that trust. for these reasons, we also recognise St. Joseph.

St. Joseph is the patron of the Universal Church. Here is a prayer with that intention. “O most poweful patriarch, Saint Joseph, patron of that universal Church which has always invoked thee in anxieties and tribulations; from the lofty seat of thy glory lovingly regard the Catholic world. Let it move thy paternal heart to see the mystical spouse of Christ and His vicar weakened by sorrow and persecuted by powerful enemies. We beseech thee, by the most bitter suffering thou didst experience on earth, to wipe away in mercy the tears of the revered pontiff, to defend and liberate him, and to intercede with the Giver of peace and charity, that every hostile power being overcome and every error being destroyed, the whole Church may serve the God of all blessings in perfect liberty. Amen.”

Let me take this opportunity to greet “Happy Feast Day” to fellow Josefinos, priests who were graduates of San Jose Seminary.

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