Friday of the Fourth Week
Feast of Saint Joseph
When I was a part-time assistant priest at Saint Joseph Parish in Burlington several years ago, I served as spiritual director for the parish’s “Confraternity of Saint Joseph.” Thus, I had plenty of opportunities to talk and write about this admirable man whom we the Church honor and celebrate today.
Sometime in the past, there was a popular film about an American in Ireland, starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, entitled The Quiet Man; I only mention this here because we could rightly, I think, entitle the story of Saint Joseph, “The Quiet Man,” since we do not have in the Bible’s New Testament a single word spoken by Joseph. He is, however, depicted as a gentle, modest, humble man and, yet, a courageous man of action, surely a model for all of us, men in particular, as devoted husband and father, righteous or just – briefly a very good man, who manifested deep respect for his wife Mary and foster-son Jesus.
Joseph exemplified the “faithful servant,” whom “the Lord put in charge of his household.” With fidelity and humility, as well as with courage and self-sacrifice, Joseph served Mary and Jesus, at times in very difficult and mysterious circumstances. A reminder, perhaps, that we, too, are called by God to fulfill our responsibilities, whatever they might be, with fidelity and humility and generosity even, and perhaps especially, when it is difficult to do so. I am especially grateful to my parents who when as an infant I received the sacrament of Baptism, for my middle name they chose, Joseph.
Fr. Ray Doherty, S.S.E. ’51
First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16
Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29
Second Reading: Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22
Gospel: Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a or Luke 2:41-51a
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