Daily Readings for March 20, 2017

Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

1ST READING

From the beginning God planned to send Jesus as our Redeemer. There are cryptic references to Jesus and His coming in the Old Testament. They point to God’s overall plan. God is alive and working at bringing His plan of salvation to fruition. Let us thank God for remembering how much we need Him and His gift of salvation.

2 Samuel 7:4-5, 12-14, 16

4 The Lord spoke to Nathan and said: 5 “Go, tell my servant David, 12 ‘When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his kingdom firm. 13 It is he who shall build a house for my name. And I will make his royal throne firm forever. 14 I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. 16 Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.’ ”

P S A L M

Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29

R: The son of David will live forever.

1 [2] The promises of the Lord I will sing forever; through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness. 2 [3] For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”; in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness. (R) 3 [4] “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant: 4 [5] Forever will I confirm your posterity and establish your throne for all generations.” (R) 26 [27] “He shall say of me, ‘You are my father, my God, the Rock, my savior.’ 28 [29] Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him, and my covenant with him stands firm.’” (R)

2ND READING

St. Paul reminds us that the key to salvation is faith in the promises of God. How well do we know the promises of God? How well do we know the Word of God as presented in the Scriptures? The Scriptures continue to reveal to us the promises of God so we will have something to anchor our lives to.

Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22

13 Brothers and sisters: It was not through the law that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants that he would inherit the world, but through the righteousness that comes from faith. 16 For this reason, it depends on faith, so that it may be a gift, and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not to those who only adhere to the law but to those who follow the faith of Abraham, who is the father1 of all of us, 17 as it is written, I have made you father of many nations. He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not exist. 18 He believed, hoping against hope, that he would become the father of many nations, according to what was said, Thus shall your descendants be. 22 That is why it was credited to him as righteousness.

GOSPEL

Joseph is seemingly an insignificant person but he actually plays an important role in God’s plan of salvation. As the earthly father of Jesus, he cared for both Mary and Jesus. He took them to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod. He received divine revelations through dreams while Mary got an angel. God works in many ways and we need to be open to them.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Blessed are those who dwell in your house, O Lord; they never cease to praise you.

Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24 (or Luke 2:41-51)

16 Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. 18 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. 19 Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. 20 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. 21 She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 24 When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.