Gospel
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.
Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
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.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
Today we remember St Joseph who said yes to God and took care of the mother of God and the Redeemer himself. His yes was huge. Probably the greatest task given a man.
Joseph is called upon to pray to God for the protection of families. As Catholics we set aside this day to remember to pray especially in these times when the evil seeks to destroy the kingdom by focusing his attacks on the unborn and families. The devil despises the baby for it was through birth that Jesus came into the world and redeemed us. It was through the Holy Family that the kingdom of God on earth was made possible. So as goes the family, so goes the world.
As we head closer to Easter when the Son of Man will finish his task of defeating death and the evil one we should remember St Joseph and ask him to pray for our families and children. That they may return to the faith and rekindle the faith Joseph showed us by his yes and his life of obedience to God’s will. He is a great example for all fathers and all of us on how to continually say yes to God. For he said yes to Mary when it was against culture and everything he knew. He said yes to protecting the family and ensuring they were out of harm’s way. And he said yes to being a father to the Son of God.
His devotion to family and to God is an example for us all to follow and as we too are called to defend the family, the young and unborn. By our yes to follow the will of God in our life we say yes with St Joseph and no to the evil one and the world. Always putting the will of God first in our life.
St Joseph pray for us.
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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