Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent - March 19, 2019/Solemnity of St. Joseph

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2 Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16  Romans 4:13,16-18, 22  Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a  Luke 2:41-51a

Today’s readings are all about faith; whether it be the promise to Abraham and his descendants of inheriting God’s kingdom or the faith of St. Joseph who is told in his dream by the angel that Mary, his betrothed, is carrying a son conceived through the Holy Spirit.

St. Joseph has always been one of my favorite characters in the bible.  He was a good, supportive, and hard-working man.  Can you imagine for just one minute what he must have felt learning that Mary was with child?  Most men of the time would have exposed her secret and left her subject to public humiliation or worse. Being a kind man, he simply planned to leave her quietly.  However, he believed the angel’s words to be the words of God. Mary also demonstrated that same faith after being visited by the angel Gabriel.  Her words to Gabriel were simply “may it be done to me accordingly to your word” (Luke 1:38).

We all feel at times that our faith is tested.  Do we take the easy road when difficult decisions come our way?  In my own life, I act and then later question my decisions, actions or words.  Did I practice according to my faith? I often fail to consider that it “be done according to God’s word” as Joseph and Mary so humbly were able to do.

Lent is a time for all of us to examine our own faith.  When we are confronted with difficult decisions, keep in mind the image of Joseph, learning his new role, knowing the difficult times that would be coming.  Do we have this faith?  We are all lucky that God is present and willing to help us along the way.  We simply must open our lives to Him.

Q:  When was the last time you wished you had followed God’s word? Today, when faced with a difficult or unexpected choice, pray to God “your will be done, Lord.”

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