IT MAKES SENSE TO ME
By Larry Peterson
St. Joseph, thank you and please pray for all of us.
IT MAKES SENSE TO ME
By Larry Peterson
St. Joseph, thank you and please pray for all of us.
IT MAKES SENSE TO ME
By Larry Peterson
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You tube.com |
prevalent. The list goes on and on.
IT MAKES SENSE TO ME
By Larry Peterson
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Forced deportation from the Krakow ghetto, 1942 wikipediacommons |
IT MAKES SENSE TO ME
By Larry Peterson
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Joseph of Nazareth and his boy, Jesus Christ The ONLY man who could ever call him “my boy” |
One final thought about this incredible person; Joseph of Nazareth was the only man who ever lived who could point to the Son of God and say, “That’s MY boy.” Imagine that.
St. Joseph, thank you and please pray for all of us. HAPPY FEAST DAY
IT MAKES SENSE TO ME
Fortunately, God has blessed me with a self-deprecating sense of humor. I took a breath and began to laugh. Then I created some dialogue for the moment. I raised my hands, looked out across my random pill and coffee display, and announced to no one, “You are such an idiot!” Then I laughed some more and began Round Two of the weekly pill dissemination. That time I succeeded.
In closing, as we continue on this unpredictable and happy odyssey into Christmas wonderment, I would like to wish you all a beautiful, blessed, healthy and joy-filled Christmas. (If I don’t electrocute myself putting up my Christmas lights you may hear from me again before Christmas arrives.)
“Celebrate the feast of Christmas every day, even every moment in the interior temple of your spirit, remaining like a baby in the bosom of the heavenly Father, where you will be reborn each moment in the Divine Word, Jesus Christ.”
St. Paul of the Cross (Catholicquotes.org)
IT MAKES SENSE TO ME
By Larry Peterson
Every March 19, The Catholic Church honors and celebrates a man who, next to the Blessed Virgin Mary, is the greatest of all saints. His name is Joseph. He was Mary’s husband and the foster father of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Included among his honors he is venerated as the patron of fathers, workers, and unborn children.
I call Joseph the “Shadow Saint” because so little is known about him. There is not one spoken word he ever said that was recorded. What is known and what the facts bear out are: Being a Jewish man of great faith he trusted God and took Mary as his wife even though she was pregnant at the time; He cared for and protected his wife and “foster” Son from the moment God asked him to; and He loved them unconditionally and without reservation. Joseph, the carpenter from Nazareth, was a real MAN.
We need St. Joseph more so today than ever before. Marriage and fatherhood are in crisis. In fact, America is becoming a nation of absentee fathers. The influence of fathers in families has been in steady decline for decades. A ‘fatherless America’ helps breed a poverty rate for the fatherless at 4X the national average. In addition, it spawns increased drug abuse, physical and emotional health issues, lack in educational achievement, and a sharp increase in crime. Finally, it promulgates an irresponsible teen pregnancy rate that sees newborn children being born into hopeless situations. Much of this hopelessness is attributed to the absence of fathers.
Let’s face it, in our secular and contemporary society men are portrayed in a negative way. The press and media marginalize, demonize and portray men as oversexed objects who can only think of having sex and drinking beer. Comedy shows (sit-coms) direct children to perceive them as idiots and “snicker” along with their moms about dad’s behavior. Compare the character Jim Anderson in the 60’s sitcom, “Father Knows Best” to Homer Simpson in the animated, 20 year long hit, “The Simpsons”. Anderson is a hard working, God fearing man who loves and respects his family and takes care of them. His wife and kids respect him and they all love each other. (How corny, right?) Homer Simpson is basically a buffoon who swills beer and is lazy and irresponsible. His wife and daughter are the voices of reason and keep order in the family. Homer Simpson is the stereotypical TV “dad” of the last 20 years. How illuminating and uplifting for the kids who have grown up watching this.
Our saints are the creme de la creme of our Catholic world. They represent the very best of the best. They are what I call our Catholic Hall of Fame. And St. Joseph stands at the top of the list. No one in history was ever given such a responsibility as he was. The man was charged with taking care of the expectant Mother of God and the Baby who was to grow up to be the Messiah, the Chosen One. Imagine that. A simple carpenter being asked to raise and protect the baby that would grow to be the Man that changed the world forever.
Joseph did whatever he had to do to take care of his wife and son. He worked hard to keep a roof over their heads, to feed them, clothe them, and protect them. He did not care about himself. His family came first, no matter what. He would have gladly died for them if necessary. He was a real MAN. His faith, courage, integrity and love of God resonate like the smashing of cymbals and the banging of drums for all of us to listen to. WE should LISTEN TO HIM ! We need to follow his example. We need to celebrate his life. We need to honor his commitment to his responsibilities.
St. Joseph, a hard working carpenter was the perfect dad. Two thousand years after his death he is still the finest role model for, not only husbands and fathers, but for all men for all time.
St. Joseph, thank you and please pray for all of us. HAPPY FEAST DAY
Copyright ©2015 Larry Peterson
by Larry Peterson
I call Joseph of Nazareth the “Shadow Saint” because, even though he was responsible for being foster-father to the God-man and husband to the God-man’s mom, the Blessed Virgin, his own life was so quiet and unknown. He had to shelter them, protect them, feed them, provide for them. He married Mary (who was a teenager) while the cloud of “adultery” (a sin punishable by death) hung over her head. Imagine how incredibly difficult this must have been for him, a “righteous Jew” who followed the law and found himself betrothed to a pregnant woman who was not carrying his child. He must have loved Mary so much and had such great faith.
St. Joseph, teaching his Son, Jesus, carpentry from the painting by Georges da La Tour, 1640s |
by Larry Peterson
Just a ‘shout-out’ from me to St. Joseph, my favorite saint, on the feast of “St. Joseph the Worker”. He is an inspiration and magnificent role model , not just for husbands and dads but for all men. I love this man.
Today the Catholic world honors all workers, those from yesterday, from today and those not yet here. Fittingly, the man who heads the list is none other than St. Joseph, foster dad to Jesus Christ and husband to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The day is called the “Feast of St. Joseph the Worker” and honors the quiet carpenter holding him up high as an example for all workers and their families.
Saint Pope John Paul II on St. Joseph:
“Let us imitate our model St. Joseph in all
our endeavours especially the raising and upbringing of our families. St. Joseph did Great Things in the ordinary things of life. In loving His wife, in loving His Son, and especially loving God and every person who ever lived. Let us start always in our family to love our neighbor.”
“The essence and role of the family are in the final analysis specified by love. Hence the family has the mission to guard, reveal and communicate love, and this is a living reflection of and a real sharing in God’s love for humanity and the love of Christ the Lord for the Church his bride. Through God’s mysterious design, it was in that family that the Son of God spent long years of a hidden life. It is therefore the prototype and example for all Christian families.”
The Catholic Church deeply venerates this Family and proposes it as the model for all families. The family of today can learn so much from this family. Why is this so? Because it was headed by the greatest earthly husband and dad ever, St. Joseph.
IT MAKES SENSE TO ME
by Larry Peterson
March 19 is the day we honor St. Joseph. I think we should give him the whole month of March. I love this man. I will run this (and nothing else) starting today March 16, through Friday, March 21.
Imagine how incredibly difficult this must have been for him, a “righteous Jew” who followed the law and found himself betrothed to a pregnant woman who was not carrying his child. He must have loved Mary so much and had such great faith.
Then, after the baby is born in a dingy stable with smelly animals, he had to hide his wife and Son and run from the maniacal Herod, who wanted the child dead and had ordered his soldiers to find Him so they could kill Him. Imagine the fear and anxiety as you try to avoid detection. Feel your heart pounding faster and faster at the sound of every hoofbeat or snapping branch. I cannot imagine. Joseph must have had incredible courage.
Yet, we know so little about this just and holy man. What we do know is he saved the Son of God who, in turn, lived long enough to save us all. Oh yeah, he also was married to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He loved her with all of his heart, took care of her, and protected her against all dangers. There is a love story for you.
Joseph is considered the Protector of the Universal Church. He is also the patron saint of fathers and families. Next to his wife, he is the greatest of all other saints. Just remember that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, called him, and only him, “dad”. And maybe (I like to think this) the Blessed Mother called him “sweetie” or “hon”.
I call Joseph of Nazareth, the “Shadow Saint” because, even though his life is so quiet and unknown, he was responsible for being foster-father to the God-man and husband to the God-man’s mom, Mary. He had to shelter them, protect them, feed them, provide for them. He married Mary while the cloud of “adultery” ( a sin punishable by death) hung over her head. He managed to take her to Bethlehem for the census when she was almost full term. Then he had to hide his wife and Son and run from the maniacal Herod who wanted the child dead and had his soldiers out looking for them.