Tag: St. Joseph

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Since From You Shall Come A Ruler Who is To Shepherd My People

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Awhile back the angels asked me to dedicate Sundays to the Word. With Love and Gratitude, here is the Gospel of Matthew 2: 1-12.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
“Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word,
that I too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.

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Have you ever had an epiphany about something? An epiphany is described as a sudden realization of something; an illuminating discovery; or a sudden perception of the meaning of something. In today’s Gospel, the three Wise Men had an Epiphany of the Lord. A Divine Epiphany, revealing the True Savior coming into the world. They knew this through the Holy Spirit, who had Divinely revealed this to them.  They had studied scriptures, studied the stars, and even had the most unique gifts for the Lord. They knew the precise star to follow , through the Holy Spirit, of the Birth of the Lord, . The gifts they brought were unique because each one represented something. Gold, was a gift given to Kings, so the three Wise Men were recognizing Jesus as “King”. The second gift, Frankincense, was a gift given to High Priests, so they were recognizing  Jesus as “Priest.” The third gift was interesting as Myrrh was often used in burials, and also in a type of anointing, so this gift was given, recognizing His Bitter Passion. 

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In Honor of Our Lord- Christmas Season and Beyond

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In Honor of our Lord – Christmas Season and Beyond – Luke 2:4-20

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

In Jesus Name

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The Holy Family of Jesus

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Awhile back, the angels asked me to dedicate Sundays to the Gospel Readings for the day. Here is Luke 2:41-52 with a loving message behind it.  

Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast
of Passover,
and when he was twelve years old,
they went up according to festival custom.
After they had completed its days, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem,
but his parents did not know it.
Thinking that he was in the caravan,
they journeyed for a day
and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
but not finding him,
they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions,
and all who heard him were astounded
at his understanding and his answers.
When his parents saw him,
they were astonished,
and his mother said to him,
“Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
And he said to them,
“Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
But they did not understand what he said to them.
He went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was obedient to them;
and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor
before God and man.

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This takes place shortly after the Annunciation, the Visitation and Presentation of Jesus in the temple. At age 12, Jesus astonished the teachers of the temple with His inherent knowledge, wisdom and understanding in his questions and answers. When Mary and Joseph do find Jesus in the temple, they, like most parents searching for their child, are a little anxious in not locating Him for three days. Jesus, like all responses, calms them with a revealing of His Holy purpose and of his Heavenly Father. Even though they didn’t quite understand, Jesus wished his earth parents peace and remained obedient to them, thus setting an example for all children of God. Mary kept all of these things in her most blessed Immaculate Heart.

Love is always the answer and the Holy Family can help us all grow in love and gentleness with each other. We can ask the Holy Family for their prayers for our own families. We can ask them to help each of our family members, in prayer, in love and in Divine assistance. The Holy Family, is happy to do so.

The angels said, “This is a question worth asking.”

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