The Lenten season is usually is a sea
of the liturgical color of purple as we journey with Jesus through the desert
during the holy season of Lent. However,
in the midst of our Lenten observance, we are wearing the liturgical color of
white today as we celebrate the Solemnity of Joseph, the Spouse of the Blessed
Virgin Mary. I am looking forward to the
St Joseph Table that our parish of St James uses to celebrate Joseph on his
solemnity.
The St Joseph Table is an ancient
Italian tradition. According to stories
that have been passed down about the St Joseph Table, there was a famine in
Sicily many centuries ago. The inhabitants in a particular village in Sicily
prayed to St. Joseph, the spouse of Mary and the foster-father of Jesus, and
asked for his intercession before the throne of God. Their prayers were
answered. As the dreadful famine ended, a special feast of thanksgiving was held
in commemoration of Joseph and his intercessions. This celebration became a
tradition. Affluent families prepared huge buffets and then invited the less
fortunate people of the village to their feast, especially the homeless and
sick.
Joseph’s role in Jesus life is
celebrated each year in our celebration of Christ’s birth at Christmas
time. As we listen to this story about
Joseph protecting Mary and obeying God in today’s Gospel, it might be
interesting for us to learn that for much of the history of the Church, Joseph
was not paid very much attention.
However, now we celebrate Joseph as the spouse of Mary on March 19 of
each year, and we also celebrate Joseph the Worker on May 1.
Especially during the Sacrament of
Reconciliation, I like to point out to many men that St Joseph is a wonderful
example for all Christian men, especially in his role as father, husband,
worker, and man of the community. We
don’t know a lot of details about Joseph, but we do know that he was a man of
faith, a man who nurtured Jesus and who helped bring him up in the traditions
of the Jewish faith. As we celebrate St
Joseph today, may his example give us encouragement in our own lives of
faith. And my the example of the St
Joseph Table help us to reach out to the poor, the lonely, and the abandoned of
our society.
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