Gospel: March 19, 2024
March 19, 2024 (Tuesday)
Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary
Psalter: Proper / (White)
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 89: 2-3, 4-5, 27, 29
The son of David will live forever.
Gospel: Matthew 1: 16, 18-21, 24a (or Luke 2: 41-51a)
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and from her came Jesus who is called the Christ—the Messiah.
This is how Jesus Christ was born: Mary his mother had been given to Joseph in marriage, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.
Then Joseph, her husband, made plans to divorce her in all secrecy. He was an upright man, and in no way did he want to disgrace her.
While he was pondering over this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She has conceived by the Holy Spirit, and now she will bear a son. You shall call him ‘Jesus’ for he will save his people from their sins.”
When Joseph awoke, he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do.
Reflection:“Being a righteous man.”
St. Joseph is known to be an upright and discerning man. In a time of confusion, his endearing quality as an upright man would all the more shine because he would discern well rather than outrightly condemn. After learning about the situation of Mary, the woman who was already given to him in marriage, Joseph wisely decided not to disgrace her. Joseph thought of divorcing Mary quietly after the latter was found to be pregnant. Joseph discerned well in view of protecting Mary. His righteousness went beyond the law of Moses that prescribed stoning to death a betrothed woman if she was found to having an affair with another man (cf. Dt. 22:23-24). Humanly speaking, though it was clear that Mary’s pregnancy was through the Holy Spirit, one may still wonder about the confusion the said situation must have brought to Joseph. Yet, Joseph’s righteousness remained intact even amidst confusion. The truly righteous person is the one who all the more listens to the promptings of the Spirit when facing a difficult situation.
