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40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 20 March 2023 Monday, Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of Blessed Virgin Mary 2 Samuel 7:4-5, 12-14, 16 + Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22 + Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24
Praise and thanksgiving to you, God our Father for the gift of calling me like St. Joseph to bring your Son Jesus into the world despite my many fears and doubts, inadequacies, weaknesses and sinfulness, you entrusted me with the same task you gave St. Joseph of making known your Son as “God Saves” - Jesus.
…the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home… She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:20, 21
Remind me always, dear God, of this first task you gave us your beloved children to make known to everyone that Jesus came to die on the Cross to show us “God saves” - that we are so wrong to think you are domineering and ruthless God, that you are not a God hungry of power, that you are not insistent, and demanding God, most of all, you are not a God who competes with us your mere creatures like everyone thinks from Adam and Eve down to us today.
Teach me to be silent, trustful of you, O Father, like St. Joseph not bothered at all of how things would turn out with my task to make people realize and experience Jesus Christ; give me the courage and obedience of St. Joseph to do as you have tasked me to witness this great mystery and wonder of your love because “God saves”. Amen.
