Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ:
Today, March 19, 2021, is when the Christian Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Joseph, Guardian of Our Lord. The Church remembers Joseph for his trusting in the word of the angels and his faithful service in protecting and helping raise Jesus.
This post is devoted to one of the Feast Days that the historic Christian Church regularly observed that are generally neglected today. I pray that you find this message beneficial in your devotions this or another day.
“Saint Joseph has been honored throughout the Christian centuries for his faithful devotion in helping Mary raise her Son. Matthew’s Gospel relates that Joseph was a just man, who followed the angel’s instructions and took the already-pregnant Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:24). In the Gospels according to Matthew and Mark, Jesus is referred to as “the carpenter’s son” (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3). This suggests that Joseph had building skills with which he supported his family. Joseph was an important figure in the early life of Jesus, safely escorting Mary and the child to Egypt (Matthew 2:14) and then settling them back in Nazareth once it was safe to do so (Matthew 2:22). The final mention of Joseph is at the time the twelve-year-old Jesus visits the temple in Jerusalem for the Passover (Luke 2:41-51). Joseph, the guardian of our Lord, has long been associated with caring parenthood as well as with skilled craftsmanship.” 1
The verse or theme for this feast is “When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded.” It is from Matthew 1:24a.
Old Testament 2 Samuel 7:4-16
Psalm Psalm 127 (antiphon v. 1a)
Epistle Romans 4:13-18
Gospel Matthew 2:13-15; 19-23
The hymn appointed for this day is “‘Our Father, by Whose Name” as found on page 863 in the Lutheran Service Book. You may listen to this hymn as sung during the daily chapel service at Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne by here: Our Father, by Whose Name – LSB 863 – YouTube
Collect of the Day:
Almighty God, from the house of Your servant David You raised up Joseph to be the guardian of Your incarnate Son and the husband of His mother, Mary. Grant us grace to follow the example of this faithful workman in heeding Your counsel and obeying Your commands; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Pastor Jim Tuell
1 Treasury of Daily Prayer, Scot A Kinnaman, General Editor, Concordia Publishing House, Saint Louis, MO., 2008, p, 1286.
