4th Week of Lent
20th March 2023 (Monday) Readings and Reflection
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Reading of the Day
First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16
In those days: The word of the Lord came to Nathan, "Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says the Lord: When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me. Your throne shall be established for ever."
Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29 (R. 37a)
R/. His descendants shall continue forever.
Second Reading: Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22
Brethren: The promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world, did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring-not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations" - in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be." That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness".
Gospel : Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a
Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to send her away quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: Faithful Steward!
Indicative: God values human persons. He assigns them a very significant role and function in His eternal plans and designs. He seeks their cooperation and assistance in carrying out these plans{alertSuccess}
1. We rejoice today as we solemnise our great father St Joseph. Before we meditate on his figure, in the first place, we are drawn to realise God’s own nature. How magnanimous and benevolent He is! God never undervalues the dignity and the scope of human participation and contribution. It is not because He cannot do without us. It is only because He loves us and wants to show it concretely. True love always values loved ones, safeguards their dignity, elevates it, and puts it into play
2. Thus, we see how God interacts with the two pillars of his incarnate human family. Through his angel, He discloses his redemptive plan to Joseph and Mary, takes them into confidence, gains their consent, and thus sets out to implement his plan. Mary and Joseph understood God’s will and so unconditionally submitted and committed themselves to follow and fulfill his sacred designs
3. We have the figure of Joseph who plays a key role in God’s plan of incarnation. It is precisely to be the spouse of Mary and the foster-father of Jesus. Today’s gospel focuses on the person of Joseph. It narrates the famous dream of Joseph. In fact, it is the “Annunciation” to Joseph.
4. There is only one attribute that is applied to him. That is, being “just”. The gospel episode demonstrates how he was just. He was just because he acted magnanimously toward Mary. Even though he knew nothing of the divine intervention for Mary’s pregnancy, he did not want to publicly denounce Mary. He was so concerned for Mary’s self-dignity that he decides to divorce her quietly
5. True justice always carries charity. He had perfectly the right of a husband to avenge his honour by exposing her in the public. But for him, the right of Mary to public honour was more than his own legal honour
6. The second aspect of how he was just is seen in his total docility and surrender to God’s will. Even though he was already totally decided to divorce Mary quietly, still as soon as he knew it was God’s plan, he instantly submitted to it. There were no hurt feelings, no arguing, no challenging, no contesting God’s plans, no lamenting, and no annoyance about why God did not first reveal His plan to him before he underwent so much mental struggle. It was God’s plan and he just needs to submit to it. That was all that mattered to him
7. Those who claim today to be just and project themselves as justice-fighters must take some lessons from St Joseph. True justice never does harm to others and it is very submissive to God’s will
Imperative: St Joseph teaches us that our call is to be humble and faithful stewards who are conscious and responsible about their God-given tasks and carry them out with commitment{alertSuccess}