Lenten Moments of Mercy: Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent Solemnity of St. Joseph   St. Joseph models and shows us how to be merciful toward others.

Scripture “Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.  When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife.” Matthew 1:19, 24   Reflection In the reflections of the past few days we have seen increasing hostility toward Jesus among those who refused to see him for who he truly was, the Son of God. They based their criticism on their rigid understanding of the Scriptures and refused to see in Jesus the one who fulfilled the intention of the Law. In the beginning of Matthew’s Gospel, we see Joseph facing the same issues. Joseph was betrothed to Mary. While he had not yet taken her into his home, in the custom of the time, they could legitimately have marital relations, and any children from their union would have been accepted as legitimate. So Mary’s pregnancy was an embarrassment to Joseph. Joseph was a faithful man and a true observer of the Law. But as a merciful man, he wished to quietly end the marital contract with Mary so as to cause the least embarrassment. In his Gospel, Matthew sees Joseph as being the first man living the tension between understanding the Law and the new life that God is bringing in Jesus. When Joseph listens to the angel revealing the truth of Jesus’ coming and responds wholeheartedly, he is living the heart of the Law and not its letter. He is already living out the higher righteousness of the Kingdom of God (Matthew5:20). Assessing the demands of the Law against obedience to the Revelation of God, Joseph lets go of his previous understanding of the Scriptures to obey the living voice of God. He takes Mary into his home and becomes the protector of the Holy Family. In this way he models for us what it means to live in God’s mercy toward others rather than in judgment over them.

Pope Francis “Joseph is a ‘protector’ because he is able to hear God’s voice and be guided by his will; and for this reason he is all the more sensitive to the persons entrusted to his safekeeping. He can look at things realistically, he is in touch with his surroundings, he can make truly wise decisions. In him, dear friends, we learn how to respond to God’s call, readily and willingly, but we also see the core of the Christian vocation, which is Christ! Let us protect Christ in our lives, so that we can protect others, so that we can protect creation!” Homily, 19 March 2013   Lenten Action ► Learn more about St. Joseph. ► Read “Contemplating with Joseph” at Creighton University’s Online Ministries site. ► Go back and reflect on something that particularly touched you this fifth week of Lent.   Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday   Prayer St. Joseph, intercede for us that we may see others in terms of mercy instead of judgment.

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