DAY 27: THE SOLEMNITY OF ST. JOSEPH - SPIRITUAL JOURNEY FROM LENT TOWARDS EASTER

SOLEMNITY OF ST. JOSEPH, Spouse of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. In celebration of the aforesaid feast or solemnity, the reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a) describes the hesitance of St. Joseph to take Mary as his wife when he learned that Mary is pregnant. When he decided to quietly divorce her so as not to expose her to public shame, an Angel appears to him in a dream. The Angel reveals the nature of the Child in Mary's womb and the Plan of God or the role of the Child in the Plan of Salvation by the Father. Like Mary who expressed her Fiat to the Lord's plan, St. Joseph also obeys God's will wholeheartedly and begins his role as a foster father of Jesus.

It is only fitting to render this honor to St. Joseph, who was from the "root of Jesse" and/or lineage of King David, because of his cooperation in the plan of God. He remains quiet in the background and seldom mentioned in the Holy Scriptures but his hidden presence cannot be denied. Many times, like St. Joseph we are confronted with the challenge to accept opportunities to serve God but our ignorance, doubts and failure to discern God's will make us "blind and/or deaf" to these rare chances.