Thursday, March 19
Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
First Reading – 2 Samuel 7:4-5, 12-14, 16
But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. When he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.’”
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29
℟ The son of David will live for ever.
For your merciful love was established for ever, your faithfulness is firm as the heavens.
You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant.”
℟ The son of David will live for ever.
‘I will establish your descendants for ever, and build your throne for all generations.’
Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!
℟ The son of David will live for ever.
And I will make him the first-born, the highest of the kings of the earth.
I will establish his line for ever and his throne as the days of the heavens.
℟ The son of David will live for ever.
Second Reading – Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22
“Their throat is an open grave, they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” ”In their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they do not know.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction.
Verse Before the Gospel – Psalm 84:5
Blessed are the men whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
Gospel – Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24
Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to send her away quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife.
Alternate Gospel – Luke 2:41-51
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the company they went a day’s journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” And he said to them, “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition, Ignatius Press, Copyright ⓒ 2006.
