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St. Thomas Aquinas
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A Letter from Rev.
Joseph K. Kalladan, Pastor
Sunday Bulletin - March 9,
2008
Dear Parishioner,
Traditionally we are all
accustomed to celebrate the feast of
St. Joseph, the Foster
Father of Jesus and Spouse of Mary, every year on March 19th.
However, this year as his feast falls during Holy
week, which is a very privileged week of the whole
year, his feast is transferred to Saturday, March 15th. The
Liturgical celebration of this great Man of Faith falls
every year during the Lenten season. I understand that there
have been some attempts in the past to transfer this date
out of the penitential season. However, the Church has
decided to keep it during Lent and rightly so. I believe the
memory of this Man, specially chosen by God for a
very particular mission, and his total response to this call
of God can be a powerful source of inspiration and an
example for us as we are called upon to go through the
rigors of Lent focusing on the Sufferings, Passion, death
and the glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ. As we come
together to celebrate his feast, he could certainly become a
wonderful model for us to be God's instruments as he
has proven himself to be a perfect model for every one of
us in our love and commitment to Jesus.
From the few incidents that the
Scriptures give us about Joseph, we have great insights
into who he really was, a true man of Faith totally
committed to God's way. We do not see him hesitating or
grumbling for a moment when he is told by the angel in
dreams to take Mary, his espoused wife who was with child,
to go to Egypt and come back, to take Mary who was pregnant
with Jesus to Bethlehem, etc. After searching
frantically for the twelve year old Jesus for three full
days at the Passover feast in
Jerusalem, we do not
have any evidence of Joseph complaining or getting upset
with Jesus when finally he finds Him in the temple. With his
wife Mary, he accepts his foster Son's kind of enigmatic
response: “Don't you know that I must be about my Father's
business?" The Holy Writers aptly describe him to be an
"Upright Man". The few biblical particulars about
Joseph do give an impression of him as a just, kind,
dignified and level-headed man of faith, prompt in action
but self-effacing. All his concern was for Jesus and Mary.
What a great model we have as we
journey through this Lenten Season to deepen our own love
and commitment to Christ, Our Lord and Savior who emptied
Himself, dying on a cross and rising to give us life in Him.
Dear
St. Joseph, inspire us to follow
your example of total dedication and love for Jesus as we
come together to celebrate your Feast, next Saturday.
Fr. K.K.
____________________________
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