Coffee With God - 19 March 2021 - Go to Joseph!

Reflection: Luke 2:41-51 Today the Church celebrates the solemnity of St. Joseph, the head of the Holy Family of Nazareth and the Patron of the Universal Church. The Universal Church celebrates her “Beloved Father”, declaring it a special occasion of love and mercy. Pope Francis had given us seven qualities of this Father for our reflection and imitation. All the fathers out there, if you need some guidelines on how to set up your family after the manner of the Holy Family of Nazareth, pay attention to the Apostolic Letter of Pope Francis titled, “With a Fathers’ Heart.” Pope Francis narrates seven virtues that are evident in the life of Joseph, as described in the Gospels. Of course, St. Joseph had very little reference in the Bible. The Father figure of Joseph is portrayed by Pope Francis with these qualities: 1. a beloved father, 2. a tender and loving father, 3. an obedient father, 4. an accepting father; 5. a father who is creatively courageous, 6. a working father, 7. a father in the shadows. A man who was entrusted with the care of most precious possession of God the Father, could not be anything less than that. Youngsters who follow the game of soccer must have come across the concept of “total football”. It demands that all the 11 players on the field must excel in all aspects of the game. For parents in families, St. Joseph and his Holy Family could be a school of parenthood. A “Total Father” from whom young parents could draw lessons and inspirations. And this is the same vocation we have all received – a vocation to love, care and protect our families! By being faithful to our vocation to be a good parent and a good spouse, we help to continue God’s plan of salvation in the world – a world that stands in need of love, compassion and healing. Pope Francis points out that Joseph’s faithfulness to his service of fatherhood has led the Church to put great trust in his protection and intercession. The expression used to refer to the Joseph of the Old Testament, “Go to Joseph” (Ite ad Joseph) is applied to Joseph of Nazareth and we do well to heed such advice. After all, God himself turned to Joseph and entrusted to him all that was dear to him, Jesus and Mary. Let us entrust ourselves to him as well. Go to Joseph!