Making a Joyful Noise through Lent –
03/19/2014
“I prefer a Church which is bruised,
hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church
which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security.” (Pope
Francis – Evangelii Gaudium – The Joy of
the Gospel)
These are perhaps odd words from Pope
Francis to use on this Feast of St. Joseph, yet I think they are words which
reflect the life of Joseph. He was a laborer and he faced many challenges in
his life especially when God came calling. St. Joseph was a person of life, an
ordinary person who through faith did extraordinary things. St. Joseph is a
wonderful image of the kind of Church Pope Francis wants, a compassionate,
loving and joy filled Church.
Today we celebrate St. Joseph a person
we know very little about but what we know can be an inspiration for all of us.
He was a simple man skilled in the use of his hands to shape, form and build.
He was an ordinary man place in an extraordinary situation. He was a faith
filled man who staked his life on the promises of God.
St. Joseph wanders into our life through
a few verses of scripture and leaves a lasting impression. In every situation
we find him he pursues the right thing to do. He is righteous man who cares
about the people around him. He is a loving man who protects those he loves. He
is a hope filled man who places his trust in his relationship with God.
Yes, in his ordinariness St. Joseph
stands as an example for all of us and we live our lives of faith. He is a
model of quiet faithfulness. He is the hopefulness that fathers bring to a
family. He is an example of loving attention to God’s presence. He is the
humble father who reminds us of the gift of family life and the challenge of
living for others!
As we celebrate St. Joseph today as the
husband of Mary let us honor his faithfulness, his hopefulness and his love by
letting him be an example that helps us to live our life of faith caring for those
around us.
Happy St. Joseph’s Day to all, many
blessing and don’t forget to make a joyful noise with your life today!
Daily Lenten Prayer: Loving God, we
honor your faithful servant, St. Joseph today. Help us with your grace to be
your faith filled servants too. Enable us to be compassionate like Joseph to
those around us. Give us the wisdom of Joseph so that we to will see your plan
in every aspect of our lives. Gift us with a love like Joseph so that we to can
make a different with our lives. Touch us with the joy of Joseph so that we
will always find the gift of God’s presence in everything we do. Good St.
Joseph pray for us and watch over us. Help us to always find the value of
family life no matter how difficult the world makes it. Amen!
Runner’s Thoughts: Running can
become a tool that helps us deal with the difficulties that we face. It can be
a time to release the negative energies in our life. It can be a time to let go
and let God!
Daily Blessing: Happy St.
Joseph’s Day everyone! I hope all of you have gotten off to a good start today
and may your day to be blessed with many good things and many encounters with
God’s grace. If it hasn’t been a good start to the day hang in there I am
praying that your day will only get better.
We had a nice second day of the mission
here at OLPH and I was able to get into Manhattan and be part of the taping of
the Sunday Mass yesterday too! Your continued prayers for the faith community
here and their preacher as always are greatly appreciated.
I would once again ask your prayers for
my niece and nephew, Mindy and Paul as they struggle with health issues. It has
been a difficult couple of months for them and they could use the power of our
faith and prayers!
Through the intercession of St. Joseph
may God bless us all today with the gifts of faithfulness, hopefulness and
loving care for others. May God bless us with the strength to stake our lives
on the promises of God like Joseph. Again, everyone have a faith filled day
with many blessings and much peace. As always you are in my prayers. Peace in
Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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