Daily Gospel Reflection for March 19, 2024: Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Reflection by Kerri Baunach

Today's Gospel: Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph and commemorate this day by reading how the Holy Family began. The Holy Family is the model of family life: a hard-working father, a nurturing mother, and a perfectly obedient child. It’s a hard model to live up to, impossible really.

Very few of our families are ever going to live up to the saintly example of the Holy Family. Even the best of us have our moments. I sometimes wonder if St. Joseph struggled in his own holiness while living with his two sinless family members.

Today’s Gospel does show us both St. Joseph’s struggle as well as his acceptance and trust. Even the Holy Family got off to a bit of a rough start. He is betrothed to a woman who is found with child. We see he is a good man as he doesn’t want to “expose her to shame,” which he could have done. I imagine he struggled greatly in his decision whether to “divorce her quietly.”

Thankfully, he is given a message in a dream to take Mary into his home, and the Holy Family is established. Joseph accepts the angel’s message and places his trust in God’s plan.

Marriage is a blessing, but it can also be a struggle, too. This was likely not the only time St. Joseph had doubts or struggles in his marriage. But we honor him as a saint because of his trust in God’s plan even when he didn’t understand it. He protected his family, worked hard to provide for them, and loved them. No matter how much we struggle with God’s plan for us, our families, and/or our marriage, we can learn to trust in God and His plan for our life just as St. Joseph did.

Ponder:

When have I struggled with God’s plan for my life and how did I learn to trust in God’s plan?

Pray:

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for the example of St. Joseph as protector, provider, and father-figure of Jesus. Help us to accept and trust in Your plan for our life just as St. Joseph did.

Click to tweet:
No matter how much we struggle with God’s plan for us, our families, and/or our marriage, we can learn to trust in God and His plan for our life just as St. Joseph did. #DailyGospel

Copyright 2024 Kerri Baunach

Kerri Baunach lives in Lexington, KY with her husband and three boys. She’s a Benedictine Oblate with the Archabbey of St. Meinrad in Indiana, attends the Traditional Latin Mass, and has written on her own, now abandoned, blog, for Catholic Sistas, and many Gospel Reflections for Catholic Mom.