December 18,
2015
Today's gospel is one of my favorite stories because it involves St. Joseph who is a Bedison family favorite because of my beloved Grandpa Sandy. Joseph also gets a visit from an angel and I feel like this story tends to get overlooked or under appreciated. I re-wrote the words to the song Mary, Did You Know? as our reflection today because Joseph also had some questions that he probably asked often. What an amazing father Joseph must have been? As we go throughout the day, let's reflect on the sacrificial love that Joseph gave Mary and Jesus, and let's ask Joseph to bless our own fathers with that same kind of strength and depth of love.
Joseph, Did You Know?
(Feel free to sing it!!! No one will judge you!!)
Joseph,
did you know, that your pregnant wife, was God’s chosen mother?
Joseph,
did you know, that your baby boy, wouldn’t be like any other?
Did
you know, that she said yes,
To
save us all from sin?
And
the child that you will father, will soon be welcomed in.
Joseph,
did you know, that the angel came and brought glad tidings to her?
Joseph,
did you know, that she was scared and wondered why he chose her?
Did
you know, that the Spirit breathed,
His
life into her womb?
And
Emmanuel was present because he loves you.
Joseph,
did you know?
Joseph,
did you know?
The
boy will grow,
Under
your care,
And
he will fill your shoes,
A
carpenter,
A
teacher,
A
great man just like you!
Joseph,
did you know, that your baby boy would one day make Mary cry?
Joseph,
did you know, that your precious son would be chosen by God to die?
Did
you know, that your wife and child,
Would
come to make us free?
Your
beloved family would soon be holy!
Reading 1 JER 23:5-8
Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David;
As king he shall reign and govern wisely,
he shall do what is just and right in the land.
In his days Judah shall be saved,
Israel shall dwell in security.
This is the name they give him:
“The LORD our justice.”
Therefore, the days will come, says the LORD,
when they shall no longer say, “As the LORD lives,
who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt”;
but rather, "As the LORD lives,
who brought the descendants of the house of Israel
up from the land of the north”–
and from all the lands to which I banished them;
they shall again live on their own land.
when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David;
As king he shall reign and govern wisely,
he shall do what is just and right in the land.
In his days Judah shall be saved,
Israel shall dwell in security.
This is the name they give him:
“The LORD our justice.”
Therefore, the days will come, says the LORD,
when they shall no longer say, “As the LORD lives,
who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt”;
but rather, "As the LORD lives,
who brought the descendants of the house of Israel
up from the land of the north”–
and from all the lands to which I banished them;
they shall again live on their own land.
Responsorial Psalm PS 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19
R. (see 7) Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous deeds.
And blessed forever be his glorious name;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
O Leader of the House of Israel,
giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai:
come to rescue us with your mighty power!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous deeds.
And blessed forever be his glorious name;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.O Leader of the House of Israel,
giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai:
come to rescue us with your mighty power!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MT 1:18-25
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
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 and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill
what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
He had no relations with her until she bore a son,
and he named him Jesus.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
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 and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill
what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
He had no relations with her until she bore a son,
and he named him Jesus.
When I heard this song the other day, I heard that "little voice" inside ask, "Did you know we ask that same question of YOUR mother and father?" Each one of us needs to know that we are special in the eyes of God and are here on earth to spread that love, joy and compassion in our unique ways. Jen, did you remember that your Mom and Dad have been asked the same question about you? And when the look back on your life, we hear a "WOW!" that resonates throughout the universes and heavens! Merry Christmas LOVE!
ReplyDeleteLOVE. LOVE. LOVE.
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