Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Sleeping with Joseph
Joseph, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. It is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus.
When I think of Jesus’ father Joseph, I feel warm and safe. It’s raining outside, and inside the old man is snoring, and I’m curled up beside him, sleeping too.
Hey I got an idea, we could all play hide and go seek inside. And I’ll be it.
Sure, I know it’s a nursery rhyme, brought to life by Peter, Paul and Mary. Old man Joseph got into bed and he bumped his head and he couldn’t get up in the morning.
Wish I may, wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight. And what’s that wish?
Jesus asks his mama to guess.
Joseph sleeps, he’s worked hard all day.
Rain rain go away, come again some other day.
Five, ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five, thirty, thirty-five, forty.
Your house is on fire, and your children … they will burn.
Jesus looks up at his mama. What are you saying, Mama?
Let the rain put out the fire for now, but it will return. And we’ll be alone then, and … what did the old man say in the temple?
Won’t be my father’s Jack? No! I won’t be my father’s Jill. I’ll be a fiddler’s wife and fiddle.
Mama, what did the old man say?
His name was Simeon and he told us, “Behold this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
And what else did he say, mama? What did he also say, about you?
“And a sword will pierce through your own soul also.”
Oh, mama, I know what he said! Please don’t say it again. Let’s just go to sleep now, with daddy, and listen to the rain, and forget about the fire, and listen to the snores. Can we just do that now, Mama? Besides, don’t you want to know what my wish is?
Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight, wish I may, wish I might …
Forty-five, fifty, fifty-five, sixty, sixty-five, seventy, seventy-five, eighty.
What is your wish, my son Jesus?
Mama, I wish that we could be in this room under this roof with the rain pouring outside forever and ever! I wish we could have enough to eat and drink and that we could all fall asleep in the rain and have wonderful dreams about heaven. And Father Joseph would not die, and no swords would pierce you, and that we could just sing and sing of the Lord’s great love forever.
Eighty-five, ninety, ninety-five, a hundred.
Ready or not, here I come!
When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took his wife into his home.
So Mary kept all this, and pondered her son’s words in her heart. And she waited for the rain to stop and for Joseph to wake up and go back to making the chairs and table for the mayor. In Nazareth, which was not really their home town.
And in these precious moments, even though waiting as they were, they were happy.
Allee allee in free!
I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me, and your house and your kingdom shall endure forever.
(2 Samuel 7, Psalm 89, Romans 4, Psalm 84, Matthew 1)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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