Breaking the Word

St.Joseph, Monday – 20^th March 2023– Gospel: Mt 1,16.18-21.24

Chasing Dreams in Faith

Devotion to St.Joseph became popular from the 12^th century onward and in the 15^th century the feast was fixed to celebrate on 19^th March every year. Special devotion spread for Joseph, as foster father of Jesus and husband of Mary in the 19^th century. An emphasis was given by Pope Francis dedicating a “year of Saint Joseph” from 8^th December 2020 to 8^th December 2021 to mark the 150^th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church by Pius IX.

St.Joseph is a responsible father who takes directions from his dreams. The Gospel of Matthew describes four dreams, in which Joseph, the legal father of Jesus, is visited by an angel of the Lord and receives specific instructions and warnings of impending danger. Each of these dreams were different and difficult calls from God. After each dream, Joseph had to change his plans and take a risk, sacrificing his own plans. With a prophetic gaze, Joseph knows how to look beyond what he sees and recognize the mysterious designs of God. By guarding the fragility of the child Jesus and His mother, Joseph became an instrument for the realization of God’s plan, in his silent, generous and tireless hiddenness. His steadfast belief in his dreams and his courage to act on those dreams, or chase them dreams, made all the difference, in which not only the Son of God was led to safety, but salvation was offered for the whole world.

3^rd week in Lent, Saturday – 18^th March 2023 – Hosea 5,15-6,6; Luke 18,9-14

Pious Performances

In the first reading, prophet Hosea composes a penitential prayer and describes people’s reaction when they are faced with difficulties. They are terrified by threats of punishment and of being abandoned by him. Suddenly, they become “religious” and call on God for help. It is only in rough times they turn to the Lord and seek God’s help. When things are not going well, they start practicing the external signs of their religion. In other moments they forget the Lord and his guiding presence. God sees through the emptiness of their pious expressions. The reason for God’s toughness is the superficiality of their commitment to him. Finally, God spells it out clearly and says, “it is love that I desire, not sacrifice; and knowledge of God rather than holocausts.” What God has wanted from them is genuine loving actions, not empty rituals performed piously. It is a loving desire and decision to do what is right in God’s eyes. God expects from his chosen people knowledge of God, not knowledge about God, but a knowledge implying a deep interpersonal relationship instead of showy holocausts.