Happy St. Joseph's Day!

Today's Readings

"He believed, hoping against hope, that he would become the father of many nations, according to what was said, Thus shall your descendants be. " - Romans 4:18

Today's GregBlog is just like Greg... Short, sweet and happy to be a Dad!

It's the Feast of St. Joseph, a decendant of King David, a child of Abraham, the earthly father of Christ, and devoted husband of the Blessed Mother Mary, and by all accounts the "greatest Italian to ever live." LOL

If fathers give life to their children, they also pass on ways to live those lives.  My Dad gave me Lionel Hampton, and a great "why not" view of living.  Abraham gave life to his children, and passed on an attitude of unfailing hope in God's divine plan.  King David gave his children a renewed kingdom of strength in the faith that God would lead them into the future.  Joseph, inherited the life of Christ, chosen by God to accompany the Holy Spirit and a Blessed Mother in the proclaimation of the reality of everlasting life, one day at a time, raising Jesus in the ways of the faith, and the values of a productive day's work.

Abraham "hoped against hope", and God prevailed!

David promised to share a kingdom, amd God prevailed!

Joseph protected his family, and God prevailed!

Mr. Ed shared his love with Greg, and God prevailed!

Greg sits here with his beautiful wife Karen, and his amazing kids Michelle and Megan, knowing that... You guessed it... God will prevail!  Today's celebration is the feast of a father's love for his family, and maybe that's why today's feast is truly a FEAST!  So breakout the pasta and meatballs, the fruit and the pastries, and toast your family with a nice glass of Chianti... St. Joseph, pray for us!

The JOYS of Lent

Today's Readings

"Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create; For I create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight; I will rejoice in Jerusalem and exult in my people." Isaiah 65: 18-19

The Spirit of Laetare: We are in the fourth week of Lent, and passed the midway point of our Lenten journey, so there's room for rejoicing!  The week begins with Laetare Sunday, and the rejoicing of the Father upon the return of his wayward son (Luke 15: 11-32), and continues this week with Isaiah's joyful tone in Isaiah 65: 17-21 (quoted above), and the healing of a royal official's son in John 4: 43-54.  We celebrate Ezeiel's vision, and the water of life flowing from the Temple to fortify the land so as to bear much fruit (Ezekiel 47: 1-9, 12), and the healing of yet another in John 5: 1-16 (but this time on the Sabbath to make things interesting).  And finally, we join the Psalmist as we acclaim that "the Lord is good to all!" (Psalm 145: 8-9)

While Lent is not meant to be a season of JOY, it does have its joyful tone, now and then, to remind us that all of this journeying is worth it!  We can all come home and "rejoice with our Father!  We are all healed in the loving presence of our Lord!  We can all be fortified by the living water of our God, so as to bear much fruit to a world that desperately needs its nourishment.  And we can all do our part, working for the good of others, so as to affirm that the Lord is kind and merciful!

PS: Another Reason to Rejoice... Laetare Sunday also marked the 18th birthday of my eldest kid Michelle.  Her sister, Megan decorated the house, and my wife broke out the family manicotti recipe made with my Mom's amazing sauce, and we  had a good 'ol family feast... It truly was a great day!