FATHER’S DAY

“Joseph…an upright man…” –Matthew 1:19

St. Joseph would have likely heard today’s first reading and psalm response at some point in his life. Perhaps he had even committed them to memory. Little did he suspect when he initially heard these passages proclaimed that he one day would be raising and rearing the King prophesied in these readings. Yet Joseph surely imitated and emulated the qualities attributed to this King, for the Gospel describes Joseph as a righteous man (Mt 1:19). In his home and in his personal life, Joseph lived this kingly righteousness and modeled it for his wife, Mary, and foster-Son, Jesus.

Justice flourished in Joseph’s home and fullness of peace filled it (Ps 72:7). Though Jesus was divine and possessed the divine attributes of righteousness and justice, God the Father still knew how critical it was to give His Son Jesus the best of earthly fathers. “For whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise” applies to Jesus following His heavenly Father (Jn 5:19). However, there is surely some truth in this passage also applying to the child Jesus in imitating what he learned of righteous behavior from Joseph. Joseph loved Jesus and everything Joseph did he surely showed to Jesus (Jn 5:20). Fathers and mothers, serve as unfailing models of the Holy Family to your children, so that they might indelibly learn of God’s love.

PRAYER: Father, may parents mirror the virtues of the Holy Family and the Holy Trinity to their children by their sacrificial love.
PROMISE: “She is to have a Son and you are to name Him Jesus because He will save His people from their sins.” –Mt 1:21
PRAISE: “O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, Who showed Yourself to Moses in the burning bush, Who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: come, stretch out Your mighty hand to set us free.”