Frederick, Maryland,
United States - Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Wednesday, 19 March
2014 - Catholic Meditations
Meditations: Matthew
1: 16 Jacob became the father
of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus,[a] who is called
Christ.
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 1:16
“Jesus” means “Salvation”.
18 Now the birth of
Jesus Christ was like this; for after his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph,
before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19
Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a
public example, intended to put her away secretly. 20 But when he thought about
these things, behold,[a] an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream,
saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your
wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She shall
give birth to a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save
his people from their sins.”
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 1:20
“Behold”, from “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It
is often used as an interjection.
24 Joseph arose from
his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to
himself;
Saint Joseph, Spouse
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him. (Matthew 1:24)
Can you imagine a
bumper sticker that says: My son is the Savior of the universe?
It’s not uncommon
for people to want to brag about their children or grandchildren. With social
media outlets like Facebook and Twitter, bumper-sticker magnets, and custom T-shirts,
people are finding more and more ways to show off every step or accomplishment
of the kids that God has blessed them with.
Being proud of our
children or grandchildren is a natural expression of love. We are often so
amazed at the gifts that God has given them and the joy they bring to our lives
that it’s hard not to tell people about the great things they do. Yet there can
be a fine line between rejoicing in God’s goodness and prideful boasting. It
can be hard at times to discern how much is too much.
But what if you knew
that your child was the Messiah, the Son of God sent to redeem all people from
sin? Wouldn’t you have a tough time not bragging just a little bit?
On this feast day of
St. Joseph, take a moment to think about this man’s deep humility. Matthew’s
Gospel tells us that Joseph was a “righteous man” (Matthew 1:19). Still, it
must have taken an amazing amount of self-discipline not to brag about his boy.
It must have taken a heroic amount of humility not to use Jesus’ special status
to explain why he was going ahead with his marriage to Mary after it was
discovered that she was pregnant. He knew that Jesus was the Son of God: the
shepherds, Wise Men, and Simeon in the Temple all confirmed it. But Joseph
never tried to hold Jesus apart from the rest of humanity.
Today, thank God for
the good things that he has given you, especially your family. Make sure that
you take the time to show them your love and your pride in seeing God’s
goodness in them. Mirror God’s delight in them, and help them see how God wants
to use them to change the world.
“Lord, give me the
humble, righteous heart of St. Joseph. Help me to love and appreciate the
people you have entrusted to me and to guide them wisely onto your path.” Amen.
2 Samuel 7: 4 That same night, Yahweh’s word came to Nathan, saying, 5 “Go and
tell my servant David, ‘Yahweh says, “Should you build me a house for me to
dwell in?
12 When your days
are fulfilled, and you sleep with your fathers, I will set up your offspring[a]
after you, who will proceed out of your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
13 He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his
kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he commits
iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the
children of men;
Footnotes:
a. 2 Samuel 7:12 or,
seed
16 Your house and
your kingdom will be made sure forever before you. Your throne will be
established forever.”’”
Psalm 89: 2 I indeed declare, “Love stands firm forever.
You established the heavens.
Your faithfulness is in them.”
3 “I have made a
covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David, my servant,
4 ‘I will establish
your offspring[a] forever,
and build up your throne to all
generations.’”
Selah.
5 The heavens will
praise your wonders, Yahweh;
your faithfulness also in the assembly of
the holy ones.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 89:4 or,
seed
27 I will also
appoint him my firstborn,
the highest of the kings of the earth.
29 I will also make
his offspring[a] endure forever,
and his throne as the days of heaven.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 89:29 or,
seed
Romans 4: 13 For the promise to Abraham and to his offspring[a] that he
should be heir of the world wasn’t through the law, but through the
righteousness of faith.
Footnotes:
a. Romans 4:13 or,
seed
16 For this cause it
is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may
be sure to all the offspring,[a] not to that only which is of the law, but to
that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. 17 As
it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.”[b] This is in the
presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls
the things that are not, as though they were. 18 Besides hope, Abraham in hope
believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according
to that which had been spoken, “So will your offspring[c] be.”[d]
Footnotes:
a. Romans 4:16 or,
seed
b. Romans 4:17
Genesis 17:5
c. Romans 4:18 or,
seed
d. Romans 4:18 Genesis
15:5
22 Therefore it also
was “credited to him for righteousness.”[a]
Footnotes:
a. Romans 4:22
Genesis 15:6
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