Saint Joseph

The Collect
O God, who from the family of your servant David raised up Joseph to be the guardian of your incarnate Son and the spouse of his virgin mother: Give us grace to imitate his uprightness of life and his obedience to your commands; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Psalm
89:1-4, 26-29

The Readings
II Samuel 7:4, 8-16     +     Romans 4:13-18     +     Luke 2:41-52

For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants . . . in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 

~Romans 4:16-17

Time and again the scriptures bid us to hear this message: It is not all up to you. It is not that you are unimportant, or that what you do is of no consequence. On the contrary, you are of such great worth to God that God takes the responsibility for your welfare. This is grace. This is more even than we can imagine. This is life from the dead. This is the work of God in and for us.

God remains faithful when we are faithless. God establishes the promise of faithfulness toward us on the solid rock of divine grace. There it rests secure.

Ours is, as always, to respond to the gracious invitation, the grace-filled promise. Joseph responded in faith to the angel's message, and believed that God was able to call into existence something hitherto unimaginable. May we, following his example, find that same grace-empowered faith and to trust in the God who calls us always to life--to its nurture, its abundance, its resurrection from the dead.   

Closing Prayer

Ancient of Days, Alpha and Omega, still you knew the long years of growth and learning; Lord Jesus, teach us by the example of Joseph to act in justice tempered by kindness, to be obedient to your call, and to work for the well-being of those committed to our care; make us faithful in the work you give us to do. Amen.

~from Saint Augustine's Prayer Book