Here is this week’s guided reflection on Pope Francis’ apostolic letter Patris Corde, With a Father’s Heart. You can use this series on your own for person reflection, or you can use it with your family or friends. It works very well for short zoom gatherings online!

Joseph, An Obedient Father

Opening Prayer

Dear St. Joseph,
by your obedience to the will of the Father,
you have shown us how we must respond when called. 
You taught Jesus to be obedient to the Father
which gave him the freedom to sacrifice His life for us.
Guide us in our decision making
that we may faithfully respond to the will of God the Father.
In Jesus’ name, we pray!
Amen

Video Reflection

In this video clip, The Most Rev. Bryan BAYDA, C.Ss.R., Eparchial Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon, reflects on St. Joseph as an obedient father.  He considers questions such as:
– How did St. Joseph show his openness to the will of God?
– How is St. Joseph a model of obedience?
– How is St. Joseph, by his fatherhood of Jesus, a minister of salvation?

For further reflection

Take some time to consider these questions. If you are reflecting on your own you may wish to journal. If you are using this reflection with a group, perhaps give time for personal reflection as well as optional sharing.

– When we think about St. Joseph’s four dreams and how he responded to them, what do we learn about St. Joseph’s faith in God and his character?
– Bishop Bayda speaks of stages that we go through to come to obedience to God. What are those stages?  Do they resonate with your own experience of how you arrive at obedience to God’s will?
– How did Jesus learn obedience?

Closing Prayer

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
To you God entrusted his only Son;
in you Mary placed her trust;
with you Christ became man.

Blessed Joseph, to us too,
show yourself a father
and guide us in the path of life.
Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage,
and defend us from every evil. Amen.

Prayer: © Libreria Editrice Vaticana

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Watch this website next Tuesday for
Joseph, An Accepting Father