Calling for Men of Justice! (Mt 1:24) by Fr. Jonathan St. Andre

18 Dec Calling for Men of Justice! (Mt 1:24) by Fr. Jonathan St. Andre

“When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.” ~ Mt 1:24 (full readings)
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Fr. Jonathan’s Reflections:  The World has always been in need of Men of Justice!  Joseph, was spoken of in the Gospel today as a man of justice, a righteous (not self-righteous) man.  In the biblical sense, justice was referred to often.  It meant having the virtue of giving others their due, honoring their dignity even at the point of sacrificing yourself.  Joseph was certainly an example of this in how he accepted his role as the Davidic father of Jesus and cared for Mary with a generous love.  Reading about Joseph makes me think of the Men today who are confronted with the wonderful but perhaps difficult realization that they are a father.  Will they step forward and embrace mother and child with a self-sacrificing love?  I pray they do.  And I pray we all support the fathers who often are overlooked by everyone in the life of the unborn.  May they be given the gift of courage that Jesus received and also experience the joy and wonder of seeing their child and marveling at what they will become.
*  Fr. Jonathan St.André is a Franciscan Friar of the Third Order Regular (T.O.R.) and a Priest of God.  He currently lives in Loretto, Pennsylvania where he is blessed to work with young Men seeking God’s will as Franciscan novices. 

Faith Challenge:  Are you blessed to know a “Just Man” who has blessed your life?  Let them know how the Lord has blessed you through them.  Also, take some time to pray for those Men who may struggle to live righteous lives.

Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, Vatican, Project Rachel..
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Our Prayers: Pray LIFE Runners Creed to End Abortion.  Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, unceasingly. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
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Feast Day:  St. Rufus was a citizen of Antioch (or perhaps Philippi) who was brought to Rome with St. Ignatius of Antioch during the reign of Emperor Trajan. They were condemned to death for their Christianity and thrown to wild beasts in the arena two days before the martyrdom of Ignatius.
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Faith Quote:  “Justice shall flourish in his time and fullness of peace forever.” ~ Psalm 72
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Through Christ our Lord,
Fr. Jonathan, T.O.R.
John 10:10