Basic HTML Version
Solemnity of St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
2 Samuel 7:4-5A, 12-14A, 16
Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 & 29
Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22
Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24A or Luke 2:41-51A
S
UMMARY
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 for-
ever.’”
R
EFLECTION
This Gospel from Matthew is the story of Joseph, who is the hus-
band of Mary, and the “adopted” father of Jesus. Although we
don’t know much about Joseph and he appears to have a small
part in the Bible, Joseph is a very important part of God’s plan.
First, his father was Jacob. Then, when he and Mary were
“engaged” she became pregnant (although Mary and Joseph had
not been intimate). Joseph, being the righteous man that he was,
but not wanting to expose Mary’s shame, had intended to divorce
Mary quietly.
(According to the provisions of the Law of Moses,
engagement took place about one year before marriage and en-
joyed almost the same legal validity. The marriage proper con-
sisted, among other ceremonies, in the bride being brought sol-
emnly and joyously to her husband's house. From the moment of
engagement onwards, a certificate of divorce was needed in the
event of a break in the relationship between the couple).
But be-
fore he could, the angel of the Lord came to him in a dream and
told him to take Mary into his home since it is through the Holy