3/13/14 Fourth Day Novena to St. Joseph. Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger Lk 2:16 Manger. The manger symbolizes food. Food is life. Jesus came to give us new life. He leads us to eternal life. Jesus in a manger is offering himself as our spiritual food. From the gospel of St. John, Jesus proclaimed, I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst (6:35). Jesus, as the living bread, will satisfy our spiritual hunger. The manger prefigures the table of the Holy Eucharist. Remember always to bring your family to the celebration of the Holy Eucharist and receive him in Holy Communion. A Caring Provider, Loving Protector. In silence and in humility, St. Joseph was there on that holy and silent night. With the Son of God entrusted to his care and protection, St. Joseph carried out his role dutifully with love and in total obedience. The gospel of St. Luke tells us, And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn (2:4-7). St. Joseph followed. He fulfilled what was commanded of him to do. He did not complain. He did not ask for privileges. He did not insist on his own agenda. He believed and trusted in God without any reservation, without any doubts. Joseph was always with Mary and Jesus. He was always for them. He gave legal paternity to Jesus and provided them home and security. Like St. Joseph, we are also called to serve. We are also chosen to provide and to protect. We are commissioned to follow and to fulfill Gods plan. And like St. Joseph, we have to be open to the working of our heavenly Father. We have to be gracious to give ourselves to God and to his people..... Like St. Joseph, let us take Mary and Jesus into our hearts and bring them into our homes. Almighty God, merciful Father, you were always there for St. Joseph. You revealed your divine plan to him. You directed him in his work and life. And St. Joseph followed you and fulfilled your will. With the intercession of St. Joseph and humbly imploring the grace and guidance you gave him for the success of his works and the fulfillment of your command, helps us also to put into action all our resolutions, assist us to realize our plans, to accomplish what we have started, and to make our dreams come true. With St. Joseph to lead us, may we find joy amidst disappointments, peace amidst busy schedules, hope amidst failures, and gratitude for solutions to our problems. May we begin and end our day, our work, through St. Joseph with you and for you. Amen.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 04:12:09 +0000
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