Liturgy Alive for today St. Joseph spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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Today, Tuesday, March 19, 2024

 

Introduction

Today’s gospel calls Joseph “a just man.” It is a title that the scriptures of the Old and the New Testaments give to people who try to live according to God’s plans. Indeed, he played an important role in God’s plan of salvation; God entrusted our Savior, Jesus, to his care. He experienced that his important role brought him many difficulties, but he stood the test and served God well, as a man of faith, generous, and indeed “just.”

Opening Prayer

God our Father,
you entrusted your Son Jesus 
to the dedicated care of St. Joseph.
Give us the faith of this just man,
the patron of your Church,
that we may always listen to you,
and serve you in everything you ask of us
also when we do not understand 
where you are leading us.

Make us live close to your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Gospel Reading: Lk 4:24-30

When Jesus had come to Nazareth he said to the people in the synagogue, “No prophet is honored in his own country. Truly, I say to you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens withheld rain for three years and six months and a great famine came over the whole land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow of Zarephath, in the country of Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, the prophet, and no one was healed except Naaman, the Syrian.”

On hearing these words, the whole assembly became indignant. They rose up and brought him out of the town, to the edge of the hill on which Nazareth is built, intending to throw him down the cliff. But he passed through their midst and went his way.

General Intercessions

As we celebrate St. Joseph today, let us bring our intentions before the Lord.

–   Lord, we pray you for your Church. Let it honor St Joseph, its patron, through a responsible and dedicated leadership, we pray:

–   Lord, we pray you for those in public office, that they may lead their people with wisdom and justice, we pray:

–   Lord, we pray you for heads of families, including single parents, that they may be dedicated to their children, we pray:

–   Lord, we pray you for laborers who live by the work of their hands; may they do their work conscientiously and take pride in it, we pray:

–   Lord, we pray you for ourselves. May we be people who know how to serve and to live in our presence, we pray:

Lord, may the help of St Joseph help us all to serve you with love. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord,
we bring before you bread and wine.
Let these gifts express
that we want to carry out
the task you entrust to us in life.
Dispose us to cooperate wholeheartedly with your plans
to bring your love and freedom
to this entire world,
that it may accept and serve
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

God our Father,
you have given us the food
that brings us the strength and the perseverance
to do the work you entrust to us.
Like St Joseph, may we serve you well
and put all our trust in you.
Make us responsible and just persons
who reflect your goodness and love.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Blessing

May the Lord make us his good and faithful servants, trustworthy and just. Let his blessing come down on us and accompany us on the road of life: the blessing of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

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