Thought for the Day from the The Life and Glories of Saint Joseph

Part of my morning prayer time lately is reading from The Life and Glories of Saint Joseph. I'm on the chapter on the Journey to Bethlehem. Two short passages really struck me this morning. The first related to scripture about the birth of the Messiah. 

Mary was reared in the temple and must have known the prophecies well. She and Joseph both must have realized that Bethlehem was going to be the birthplace of Jesus. And yet, they stayed in Nazareth waiting to see how God would bring it about. 

...we find them remaining on at Nazareth without doubt or question. If this surprises us, it is only because the strength of their faith and their complete abandonment to the leadings of God's Providence are beyond our shallow perception. God would know how to bring about His will in the manner He pleased, and they left all in His hands.

And, of course, we know God used Caesar Augustus to bring about His will.

Acts of the Apostles Reminds Us That God Always Brings Good from Evil

Martyrdom of St. James

I generally read Acts of the Apostles during the Easter Season. How that book impresses one with God's Providence. No matter what persecution falls on the heads of the apostles and disciples of Christ, good comes from it. 

• The persecution of the Christians in Jerusalem, particularly after the execution of James by Herod (about 15 years after the resurrection), sends Christian disciples all over the known world spreading the gospel. The blood of the martyrs is, indeed, the seedbed of the faith.

• As the early martyrs go singing to their deaths, the faith spreads not only among those already oriented toward faith, but to their persecutors converted by their amazing witness. 

• The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. accelerates the exodus and sends believers out en masse to evangelize the known world. What looked like an unmitigated disaster becomes an important means of spreading the faith.

Thought for the Day on the State of the Church -- Never Fear, Little Flock!

How I love reading the Imitation of Mary every morning. It puts suffering in perspective seen in the shadow of the cross of Christ. We all love to be consoled and to see a world full of sweetness and light. That is certainly not our experience at present is it? The secular city and the city of God seem to be crumbling around us. 

If you feel that way, remember that feelings don't necessarily translate into facts. Following them can lead us into confusion and despair. Worried about the state of the world? Worried about the state of the Church? Take a deep breath and take heart. Nothing just happens! All is in the Providence of God. "All things work together for good for those who love the Lord and serve according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28) This consoling message comes from Book 2, chapter 32 of the Imitation of Mary: