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We know little about Joseph. What we have in the Gospels does not give much information. Matthew sets the record straight about the birth of Jesus. He is born of Mary through the Holy Spirit. Joseph has to come to terms with the situation, and is told by a revelation that he has a role in the new family. He was trusted by Mary and by God, and was found suitable for the task he was given. Firmness in faith before God is a virtue desired in all Christians. Joseph learns to believe and adapt himself to the varied calls of God. He is one who dies to self in his complete submission to God's will. He is the silent one in the Scriptures; we have no recorded words of his. He works no miracles, leaves no memorial. He resembles completely the generality of Christians. Since he appears no more in the later Gospel story, he is presumed to have died with Mary and Jesus at his side, and so is a patron for the dying. But in the long run his greatest praise is simply in saying that he is "that just man, that wise and loyal servant, whom you placed at the head of your family". God our Father, help us to accept our 'daily routine' in the same spirit of abandonment as Joseph did. |
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P R A Y I N G W I T H T H E C H U R C H
| INTENTION : |
For the ecclesial organisations and groups engaged in social
action, that in their testimony they may proclaim strongly and consistently
the Gospel of Love.
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It is the Church's desire that all social-charitable initiatives might
always be inspired, in their implementation, by the immutable principles of
the Gospel. There is danger, however, that professional organisations
engaged in the social field risk losing the fundamental motivation for their
existence: that is bearing witness to Christ's charity which the Church has
the duty to communicate and to share with others. In order to be effective, then, continual spiritual formation is needed for voluntary co-operators who wish to devote themselves to social action. All these initiatives tend to develop the awareness that the foundation and centre of our action is Christ, in whom the God of love revealed himself and gave himself to men and women. Consequently all those who welcome Christ follow him and answer the call to be faithful witnesses to it. This awareness must totally imbue the hearts and minds of individuals so that it also inspires the Communities they set up for organised action in support of underprivileged persons and communities suffering from material and moral poverty. Being thus imbued and formed it becomes necessary that volunteers pray to draw Christ into their midst and have him accompany them. | |
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