Daily Readings for Lent
Today's readings: March 19, 2011
First Reading: 2 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29
Second Reading: Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22 ;
Gospel: Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a ;
And here's an audio file and a video of a priest offering reflections.
The Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of my favorite feast days. When I became a Catholic, an adult convert - I chose Joseph as my patron saint for many reasons. The main ones were 1) Joseph's humility. I knew I needed help in this area, as pride is one of the greatest stumbling blocks in creating a barrier toward fulling appreciating the love God has for us. Guilty as charged. 2) It was said that he was a righteous man, and this was a character trait that I hoped to develop on my own journey through life.
It is a good day to reflect on Saint Joseph - he has so much to offer.
Last year I compiled a small collection of interesting art with Saint Joseph. Here's a link in case you missed it, or if you wish to be inspired by one of the greatest saints that ever lived.
Showing posts with label husband of the blessed virgin mary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label husband of the blessed virgin mary. Show all posts
Monday, March 21, 2011
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
Today's readings: March 25, 2009
Reading One: Is 7:10-14; 8:10;
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 11 ;
Reading Two: Heb 10:4-10
Gospel: Lk 1:26-38; go to this page (for all three sections listed above on one page) And here's an audio file; & reflections (video)
Today marks one of the greatest days of the year for the Catholic Church, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, where Gabriel the archangel, also known as God's Messanger, is sent to the little 14 or 15 year old girl named Mary, who is betrothed to Joseph, a good man from the line of King David. Gabriel first calls Mary by a new name she has never heard before, and says to her - Hail, full of Grace, the Lord is with you". These words will be uttered countless times in the rosary, probably until the end of time, but the words are new to young Mary, and she is frightened by the greeting. Gabriel tells her not be afraid, and that she has found favor with God. Then Gabriel tells her something that is totally fantastic - that she will bear a son, and His name will be Jesus. I suspect Mary knew of the words of the prophet Isaiah, provided in the first reading today - but she was still confused. So, with a tender and gentle heart - she asks Gabriel - How can this be, since she has had no relations with a man. Her words are the same words as Zechariah, which come earlier in the first Chapter of Luke - How can this be? But Zechariah said it with an air of - oh come on, give me a break - alluding to the fact that his wife Elizabeth is an older woman, and barren, past her child bearing years. Zechariah will not be allowed to speak another word until the baby, John the Baptist is born (or Elijah the prophet, for those who can accept it). But Mary's - How can this be? is uttered with innocence, as a person who does not understand, and asks for help understanding. She speaks with tenderness and humility, a virtue and grace from God offered to Mary as a generous gift, and I believe Mary knows this humility is a gift, a gift she uses in a moment of confusion, concern, and perhaps even total fear.
The words might easily be construed as a death sentence, because back then, an unmarried women having a child out of wedlock was often stoned, especially if the husband to be, made any kind of noise about it. (see Joseph's response from last week's solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary on March 19 - He was a righteous man). Knowing all these things - in an act of total faith, and love, and the deepest trust and hope one can have in God being awesome, wonderful, and above all things, loving - she quietly bows her head, and says:
I would also like to add some prayer guidance offered by Jesus in John Ch. 16 - to ask God the Father for anything in Jesus' name, and when doing so, understand that you and your will might be mistaken as to what God's will is. By all means, ask in confidence whenever you ask the Father Jesus' name. But have the humility of understanding your own neediness and weakness, and never forget to add, not my will but yours be done.
Here's a few prayers related to today's reading. As I mentioned before, I have trouble remembering prayers, so I try and make a song out of the prayer to help me remember. There's an added benefit that comes from how singing a prayer is like praying twice, and that when you sing, it comes from a deeper region in your heart. Now I know I cannot sing that well, but I am pretty sure God is more concerned about what my heart is feeling, than the words I utter in prayer. Just ask Zechariah. haha. The first prayer song is called Loving Mother of the Redeemer which mentions the meeting between Gabriel and the the Blessed Virgin Mary. By sheer coincidence, I learned this was Father Tim's favorite prayer. One of the oldest prayers of the church, it was first written in Latin and called Alma Redemptoris Mater. Short and sweet, like Psalm 131 offered in an earlier post, it is like an onion with countless layers to explore if you are a nudge like me who likes to peel things apart. The next prayer is The Canticle of Zechariah, which you can read more about in Luke Ch. 1. The prayer is also called the Benedictus, and the words are said as part of the morning prayers of all Catholic priests. I asked Monsignor Richard what his favorite was, and he shared with me that it was Benedictus, so I made up a song with the words to help me learn it. There are about a thousand better songs with the same words, with more on the way, but the Benedictus version offered here is a version I made up, only so I could remember it, and know it, and offer it from my heart.
Reading One: Is 7:10-14; 8:10;
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 11 ;
Reading Two: Heb 10:4-10
Gospel: Lk 1:26-38; go to this page (for all three sections listed above on one page) And here's an audio file; & reflections (video)
Today marks one of the greatest days of the year for the Catholic Church, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, where Gabriel the archangel, also known as God's Messanger, is sent to the little 14 or 15 year old girl named Mary, who is betrothed to Joseph, a good man from the line of King David. Gabriel first calls Mary by a new name she has never heard before, and says to her - Hail, full of Grace, the Lord is with you". These words will be uttered countless times in the rosary, probably until the end of time, but the words are new to young Mary, and she is frightened by the greeting. Gabriel tells her not be afraid, and that she has found favor with God. Then Gabriel tells her something that is totally fantastic - that she will bear a son, and His name will be Jesus. I suspect Mary knew of the words of the prophet Isaiah, provided in the first reading today - but she was still confused. So, with a tender and gentle heart - she asks Gabriel - How can this be, since she has had no relations with a man. Her words are the same words as Zechariah, which come earlier in the first Chapter of Luke - How can this be? But Zechariah said it with an air of - oh come on, give me a break - alluding to the fact that his wife Elizabeth is an older woman, and barren, past her child bearing years. Zechariah will not be allowed to speak another word until the baby, John the Baptist is born (or Elijah the prophet, for those who can accept it). But Mary's - How can this be? is uttered with innocence, as a person who does not understand, and asks for help understanding. She speaks with tenderness and humility, a virtue and grace from God offered to Mary as a generous gift, and I believe Mary knows this humility is a gift, a gift she uses in a moment of confusion, concern, and perhaps even total fear.
The words might easily be construed as a death sentence, because back then, an unmarried women having a child out of wedlock was often stoned, especially if the husband to be, made any kind of noise about it. (see Joseph's response from last week's solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary on March 19 - He was a righteous man). Knowing all these things - in an act of total faith, and love, and the deepest trust and hope one can have in God being awesome, wonderful, and above all things, loving - she quietly bows her head, and says:
May it be done to me according to your word.Similar words will also be uttered by her beloved Son, Jesus the Christ when he is alone in prayer in the garden, knowing full well what tomorrow will bring, his friends sound asleep, even though Jesus asked them to keep Him company. It is there, some 30 plus years later - where the sentiment of those words are uttered again after Jesus asks God (LK Ch22 v41),
Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.Over the past eight years, I have blessed beyond what words might convey, to have spent many many hours in prayer. Why, believe it or not, I might even have spent more time in prayer than in front of a television, though maybe not since I did not keep a score. In any event, I share this experience of my prayer time, not from any boasting on my part, in truth, I was great need of help, and I was blessed to know where to look for help. I prayed out of a profound knowledge of my own shortcomings, feeling that I was the sheep that got caught in the barbed wire fence, and carried back to the flock on Jesus' broad shoulders. The man with the great debt, unable to ever pay it back, who was still so twisted and mistaken to be tough on others who I felt owed me something. It was from a profound understanding of my weakness, that I prayed. Anyway - I wish to share something that I learned during this time. The most wonderful way to close any prayer, especially those prayers concerning your true treasures, those treasures carried in your heart - is to end the prayer with the words offered by Mary and Jesus her Son, whatever your will is, let it be done to me. You can say it many different ways of course - I am suggesting that you offer the words from the heart, not from memory. If it is something really serious that you are praying about, you are scared because your child, spouse or a friend is very sick, you are confused about what to do and wish to do God's will above your own, and you are scared what the answer might be, you are feeling terrible because you are having great difficulty forgiving a wrong done to you, ... when your prayers are so deep and come from a place of total need, and a knowledge of your own weakness to fix the problem - add that short phrase to your prayer. Whatever your will is God - do it to me, and let my will, be Your will. I do not have enough time or space or energy to detail all the gifts and blessings that have come from saying those few words, but I can tell you with all honesty - adding that short phrase to my prayers, changed my life in ways beyond anything I even hoped for, or could imagine. Gabriel said it best when he told Mary:
for nothing will be impossible for God.These prayers are heard, and answered. Sometimes - you get immediate results. Other times, you will learn that God's time is not our time, because to God, a thousand years is like batting an eye. But I do know this, that my faith in God being the most wonderful loving God of my wildest dreams, was nothing compared to how great and wonderful a loving God He always proves Himself to be, if you just put yourself in His hands.
I would also like to add some prayer guidance offered by Jesus in John Ch. 16 - to ask God the Father for anything in Jesus' name, and when doing so, understand that you and your will might be mistaken as to what God's will is. By all means, ask in confidence whenever you ask the Father Jesus' name. But have the humility of understanding your own neediness and weakness, and never forget to add, not my will but yours be done.
Here's a few prayers related to today's reading. As I mentioned before, I have trouble remembering prayers, so I try and make a song out of the prayer to help me remember. There's an added benefit that comes from how singing a prayer is like praying twice, and that when you sing, it comes from a deeper region in your heart. Now I know I cannot sing that well, but I am pretty sure God is more concerned about what my heart is feeling, than the words I utter in prayer. Just ask Zechariah. haha. The first prayer song is called Loving Mother of the Redeemer which mentions the meeting between Gabriel and the the Blessed Virgin Mary. By sheer coincidence, I learned this was Father Tim's favorite prayer. One of the oldest prayers of the church, it was first written in Latin and called Alma Redemptoris Mater. Short and sweet, like Psalm 131 offered in an earlier post, it is like an onion with countless layers to explore if you are a nudge like me who likes to peel things apart. The next prayer is The Canticle of Zechariah, which you can read more about in Luke Ch. 1. The prayer is also called the Benedictus, and the words are said as part of the morning prayers of all Catholic priests. I asked Monsignor Richard what his favorite was, and he shared with me that it was Benedictus, so I made up a song with the words to help me learn it. There are about a thousand better songs with the same words, with more on the way, but the Benedictus version offered here is a version I made up, only so I could remember it, and know it, and offer it from my heart.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary
Today's readings: March 19, 2009
Reading One: 2 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16;
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29 ;
Reading Two: Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22
Gospel: Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a;
Or Lk 2:41-51a
go to this page (for all sections listed above on one page) And here's an audio file; & reflections (video)
Saint Joseph is one of the greatest heroes in all the bible. During a time when men ruled the world with an iron fist and cared virtually nothing for the rights of a woman, Joseph wanted to divorce his wife quietly when he learned she was pregnant with a child he did not father. Scripture tells us Joseph chose to do this, because he was a righteous man. And then he had a dream, and the angel of the Lord appeared to him in the dream and said,
The Catholic church honors Saint Joseph with two special feast days - March 19, as the husband of the blessed virgin Mary, and May 1, to honor Saint Joseph the Worker. There is also a pretty weird practice of burying a statue of St. Joseph to help sell a house. Personally, I not real fond of that one, for me, Saint Joseph is my patron saint, and I know he has been there for me, to help me be good father, and also to be a man who treats women with great respect and honor. He has helped me to increase my faith, to listen well in my dreams, to be obedient, and to be humble, and slow to speak.
I made a new picture album with some of my favorite pictures and old school art of Saint Joseph, and below find the Prayer to Saint Joseph. It is usually offered as a novena, meaning you do well to say it nine days in a row. It is supposed to be a very very old prayer, dating back almost 2000 years.
For more pictures of Saint Joseph in art, go here.
Reading One: 2 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16;
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29 ;
Reading Two: Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22
Gospel: Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a;
Or Lk 2:41-51a
go to this page (for all sections listed above on one page) And here's an audio file; & reflections (video)
Saint Joseph is one of the greatest heroes in all the bible. During a time when men ruled the world with an iron fist and cared virtually nothing for the rights of a woman, Joseph wanted to divorce his wife quietly when he learned she was pregnant with a child he did not father. Scripture tells us Joseph chose to do this, because he was a righteous man. And then he had a dream, and the angel of the Lord appeared to him in the dream and said,
Joseph, son of David,And Joseph's response to the message in the dream, was to be obedient, humble and to do exactly what the angel told him to do in his dream without any complaint or second guessing. Joseph also had to flee to Egypt to protect his wife and child. Clearly, Joseph, the simple carpenter, was a man of great faith.
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.
The Catholic church honors Saint Joseph with two special feast days - March 19, as the husband of the blessed virgin Mary, and May 1, to honor Saint Joseph the Worker. There is also a pretty weird practice of burying a statue of St. Joseph to help sell a house. Personally, I not real fond of that one, for me, Saint Joseph is my patron saint, and I know he has been there for me, to help me be good father, and also to be a man who treats women with great respect and honor. He has helped me to increase my faith, to listen well in my dreams, to be obedient, and to be humble, and slow to speak.
I made a new picture album with some of my favorite pictures and old school art of Saint Joseph, and below find the Prayer to Saint Joseph. It is usually offered as a novena, meaning you do well to say it nine days in a row. It is supposed to be a very very old prayer, dating back almost 2000 years.
O St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the Throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires. O St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your Heavenly power I may offer my Thanksgiving and Homage to the most Loving of Fathers. O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for us. Amen
For more pictures of Saint Joseph in art, go here.
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