Friday of the Second Week of Lent

The readings for today point forward to the Solemnity of St. Joseph. The story of Joseph in the Old Testament reminds us in many respects of St. Joseph, the father of Jesus, in the New Testament. Think about it: both Josephs had a father named Jacob (see Matt 1:15); both were royalty; both left their homes and went to Egypt; both had a special ability to interpret dreams; both were known for their purity and chastity; and both experienced great poverty and suffering without complaint. But the similarities don’t end there. Even more poignantly, we should remember that in a profound sense, both Josephs were responsible for feeding the whole world, and both became, in the words of the psalm, the lord of the king’s house and the ruler of all his possessions. Just as the first Joseph was made the pharaoh’s right-hand man and provided grain for all peoples when famine hit, so the second Joseph was made the father of the Son of God, and to him was entrusted the care of the One who would become the Bread of Life for all men.

Let us pray today for the grace to be more like St. Joseph who, unlike the tenants in the Gospel, did exactly what was asked of him and through his obedience produced more spiritual fruits than he or we could ever imagine.

What apostolic task have I been putting off which I will commit to undertaking this coming week?

Reference:

Journey Through Lent: Reflections on the Daily Mass Readings by Clement Harrold