Word to the Wise
Thursday, March 19, 2020 - March 19 - St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
[2 Sam 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16; Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22; Matt 1:16, 18-21, 24a or Luke 2:41-51a,1166]"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.. [Matthew]
In my home state of Louisiana, particularly in those areas with folks of Italian descent, there is a custom of the St. Joseph's Altar, which features a huge amount of food and baked goods around an elaborately decorated altar with a statue of St. Joseph on it. In some places, twelve "apostles" knock on three different doors to be finally admitted and seated at a dining table to eat before the rest of the crowd can "dig in!" I was reminded of this when I looked at the scriptures assigned for the celebration of this "feast." The Second Book of Samuel focuses on the promise to the house of David (from which Joseph was descended). The passage from Romans focuses on the broader covenant with Abraham. These two promises come to fruition in Joseph, who takes his part in God's plan of salvation, involving a Jewish man and woman in Nazareth during the Roman occupation.
Like Mary, Christian tradition has added a lot of devotional practices to Joseph from building a huge cathedral in Canada to St. Joseph's Altars. He is considered, among other honors, the patron saint of a happy death!! I think the Gospel of Matthew gives him the best title, "a righteous man." We can be grateful on this day for his compassion and trust in God's plan. AMEN