March 19th – Feast of Saint-Joseph, Patron of Canada

By: His Grace Bishop Marcel Damphousse, Bishop of Cornwall, ON

OPENING PRAYER

Heavenly Father, we offer you this new day in our Lenten journey. Guide us and teach in the ways of your Son Jesus. Grant, that through the intercession of Saint Joseph, principal patron of Canada, we may seek to be humble, righteous and compassionate caregivers for those entrusted to our care. Amen.

READING

First Reading : Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a

¹⁶ and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.¹⁸ This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

REFLECTION

The Church offers us Saint Joseph as a model of faith during our Lenten season. I truly admire how Joseph has the capacity to enter into the mystery of God and play out his role as God wills it. He has to put aside his plans and dreams and believe in the impossible. He needs to deal with his emotions in a serene way and trust that God knows what He is doing by calling him to such a great responsibility. He will need to persevere in faith through the challenges of social pressure, family honour and the pure harshness of life. Where does he get all of this?If our need for conversion is put forth before us during Lent, it is to prepare us for whatever God has planned for us. Life is full of twists and turns and unexpected happenings that challenge our faith. If conversion is meant to help us turn around and to adhere to God’s ways, then we will be able to accept in humility God’s “disturbing plans” and seek to adjust to his will (being righteous).

I believe our friend Joseph was on the path of “continual conversion” to be able to respond to God’s invitation the way he did. Conversion is an ongoing process and can only be accomplished with God’s grace.

MEDITATION

Take a moment and think about the many challenges you have had to face.

• How difficult were these challenges? In what way did faith play a factor in how you responded? Do you believe and trust that God knows what he is asking of you?
• How can Jesus teach you the way to conversion during this Lent? What do you need to let go? What do you need to embrace or adhere to in showing your love for Christ?

CLOSING PRAYER

Through the intercession of Saint Joseph, we pray Lord for our ongoing conversion and for the grace of answering to your call with unwavering faith. Keep us humble and righteous as we journey through the many challenges of life.

AMEN