Sunday I celebrated Fathers Day with my parents, siblings, cousins, and grandparents. We had a barbecue and spent the day outside with all the little cousins running around eating up the attention. Earlier that morning I sat in Mass and looked at the statue of Saint Joseph behind the choir and reflected on Saint Joseph as protector of the Holy Family (Virgin Mary and Jesus). Saint Joseph’s betrothed wife was pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit, and despite any doubt, or the embarrassment of Mary being thought of as unfaithful, Saint Joseph accepted his duty as the foster father of Jesus. Even through hard times, when the Holy Family had to flee to Egypt, Saint Joseph protected his family.
As I continued to think through this I thought of the many unborn children who were aborted because of the father’s apathy or his pressuring of the mother of his child to abort. There is a big social difference between today and the time of Jesus, and it broke my heart that morning to think of all the fathers who were not celebrating Father’s Day because of their apathy; an apathy that was not known to Saint Joseph.
Similar to Maddie, I encourage men to be protectors of their children both inside and outside of the womb. The child’s environment shouldn't be the influence that determines how your child will be cared for. Think again to the example of St. Joseph, he embraced the opportunity to be a father to the baby of an unwed mother, Mary. St. Joseph can be thought of as one of the greatest of men because he said, "yes", and in doing so raised the Greatest Man of all time, Jesus. I hope to see more happy fathers next Fathers Day who are wonderful role-models just like Saint Joseph.
Saint Joseph pray for us!
As I continued to think through this I thought of the many unborn children who were aborted because of the father’s apathy or his pressuring of the mother of his child to abort. There is a big social difference between today and the time of Jesus, and it broke my heart that morning to think of all the fathers who were not celebrating Father’s Day because of their apathy; an apathy that was not known to Saint Joseph.
This has continued to be on my mind this week. . . While I was working on a "Call to Action" piece for young people to be involved in pro-life work, I asked a friend of mine what she would say to encourage others be be involved in pro-life ministry. Here is what she sent me:
“I encourage men to stand up for the women in their life, and recognize that they are needed more than ever in these decisions. There are better choices and better options (than aborton), and the baby is theirs too. Men have a say in this choice. Many women would not have aborted their children if they knew they had the father’s support. I call upon men in society to be bold, and to stand up for life!” -- Maddie Lopez Age 16Like me, Maddie is a young woman who has sidewalk counseled many times before, and we often see women at the abortion clinic who share that they are aborting because their boyfriend wasn’t excited or didn’t care when they said they were pregnant. Sometimes the boyfriend even insists on abortion.
Similar to Maddie, I encourage men to be protectors of their children both inside and outside of the womb. The child’s environment shouldn't be the influence that determines how your child will be cared for. Think again to the example of St. Joseph, he embraced the opportunity to be a father to the baby of an unwed mother, Mary. St. Joseph can be thought of as one of the greatest of men because he said, "yes", and in doing so raised the Greatest Man of all time, Jesus. I hope to see more happy fathers next Fathers Day who are wonderful role-models just like Saint Joseph.
Saint Joseph pray for us!
Standing In Defence of the Voiceless,
Timmerie Millington
Feel free to repost!
ReplyDeleteAwesome blog. A simple yes can literally mean the difference between life and a death sentence for the child in the womb. I thank God for the, "yes", of Saint Joseph, despite the fear that his own humanity may not be sufficient to father the Son of God. I'm certain this fear, and the fear of not being ready (can you imagine the timing for Saint Joseph) must paralyze many men into apathy and anger.
ReplyDeleteI pray for the courage and strength of Saint Joseph to be with all fathers, including those with children in the womb.
I agree with everything you said, except Mary and Joseph were betrothed and married, just not living together during that year long betrothal. That's what I was taught from the Baltimore Catechism. It would not make sense, that God would use a woman not married, since God instituted Matrimony as a Sacrament, at the Wedding Feast of Cana.
ReplyDeleteMary was betrothed to a man named Joseph. It was not an engagement but the first part of a Jewish Wedding.