40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the BVM, 19 March 2024
2 Samuel 7:4-5, 12-14, 16 ><}}}*> Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22 ><}}}*> Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24
How lovely,
O God our Father
that after reflecting yesterday on
connections and reconnecting,*
we celebrate today the Solemnity of
St. Joseph, the most chaste spouse
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
who gave the name Jesus to your Son
in fulfillment of your promise to David;
always regarded not only as chaste but
most of all with gifted with the virtue of silence
the world needs so badly these days,
St. Joseph witnessed in his holy life
that it is in silence when we make
the strongest connections with
one's self,
with others,
and with you, O God
because silence is the domain of trust;
The most trusting people
like St. Joseph
are also the most trusting.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream…
Matthew 1:19-20
In this world
so filled with many voices
including those spoken by machines and robots
that compete for our attention,
the more we have become fearful
of silence because we are afraid of the truth!
To be silent is to be truthful
like St. Joseph who embraced
and welcomed the whole truth,
Jesus Christ;
grant us the same grace, Lord,
you gave St. Joseph to silently
in face and embrace the truth
that can be discomforting
especially when it it is contrary
to our plans and desires;
let us not hide in silence
our festering anger that
sooner or later may explode
that could scatter all our
plans and relationships.
Amen.
St. Joseph,
pray for us!
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