Holy Thursday: The day of Humility

Holy Thursday

This day, the Last Supper was done and Jesus Christ washed the feet of his Apostles. On this day, he reminded us that humility is the best essence of a leader.

Jesus showed that, he, even the Son of God is willing to bow down for his followers. Just like what Lord Jesus told to Matthew about the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.

10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
14 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Some leaders nowadays are fond of their powers and forget that they should serve and not to be served. Their followers are following not because of respect but fear. 

Which is better, to have a follower that has full of respect to you or a follower because they fear you?

Because of the talent we have, sometimes we forgot to thank God and sometimes we are very cocky. Sometimes we don’t share it without money, without any exchange, for us, our talents are very exclusive. This is not what Lord Jesus taught us.

Jesus want us to be humble, not be so proud of what we have but be thankful and share to those who needed most.

Holy Thursday: The day of Humility

4/19/2014 faith, holy thursday, reflections

Knowing St. Joseph

Who is St. Joseph?

St. Joseph, as describe in the bible, is the husband of Mary and the foster father of Jesus. He was a carpenter. And in Luke 2:24, it said that he took Jesus to the Temple to be circumcised and Mary to be purified he offered two turtledoves or a pair of pigeons, in which, it was for those who could not afford a lamb and it means that he wasn’t rich.

Joseph came from a royal lineage despite of his humble work and means. Luke and Matthew both mark his descent form David, the greatest king of Israel. Even the angle who tells Joseph about Jesus greeted him as “son of David.”

Characteristics of Joseph

Joseph is a compassionate and caring man. It manifested when he quietly divorced Mary and not exposed her to shame and to prevent Mary from being accused in adultery, as women accused to adultery could be stoned to death, where at that moment he didn’t yet know that Mary was carrying the Son of God. 

A man of faith, obedient to whatever God without knowing the outcome that was Joseph. When the angle told him the truth about the child Mary was carrying, he immediately without any hesitation took Mary as his wife. And when an angle told him that his family was in danger, he immediately left everything he owned, his family and his friends, and migrate to a strange country with his family.

Joseph love Jesus and respect God. His love to Jesus is great just like as fathers love their children. His obedience to God is unwavering for he sacrificed all he had for the sake of protecting his family while working so hard to feed his family.

St. Joseph is the patron of the universal Church, fathers, carpenters and social justice.

Feast of St. Joseph:

March 19 for Joseph the Husband of Mary
May 1 for Joseph the Worker

Prayer:

Saint Joseph, patron of the universal Church, watch over the Church as carefully as you watched over Jesus, help protect it and guide it as you did with your adopted son. Amen

Knowing St. Joseph

4/18/2014 faith, saints, St. Joseph