St. Joseph – a righteous man

Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary

2 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16

Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29

Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22

Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a or

Lk 2:41-51a

In yesterday’s Gospel Jesus told us that our righteousness needed to surpass that of the scribes and the Pharisees (Matthew 5:20).  Today we celebrate a person, Joseph, because he was a righteous man.  He heard the call of God and responded to that call in faith.

Joseph followed in the footsteps of Abraham, the father in faith of us all.  It was Abraham who “believed, hoping against hope” (Romans 4:18) that the Lord’s promise to him would be fulfilled.  Mary, Joseph’s wife, also believed that God’s promises to her would be fulfilled.  Joseph trusted in God’s word as did Mary and Abraham.

This Lent we have the opportunity to listen more carefully to the word of God – in Scripture, in our hearts, and in the words and lives of others.  May we receive the word, act upon it, and be blessed with the righteousness that comes from faith (Romans 4:13).