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b'(2Sm.7:4-5,12-14a,16;\\xa0\\xa0 Ps.89:2-5,27,29,37;\\xa0\\xa0 Rom.4:13,16-18,22; Mt.1:16,18-21,24a\\xa0 or\\xa0 Lk.2:41-51a)\\xa0 \\u201cI will be a father to him, and he shall be my son.\\u201d It is through Joseph that Jesus is a son of David and so fulfills the promise to the king made by God: \\u201cYour house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever,\\u201d for He is the heir \\u201craise[d] up\\u201d after David \\u201cwho shall build a house for [His] name.\\u201d\\xa0 \\u201cIn heaven [the Lord has] confirmed [His] faithfulness,\\u201d and on earth He has made it known.\\xa0 And so Jesus says of God, \\u201cYou are my Father, my God, the Rock, my Savior!\\u201d and we of faith join His refrain. As with Abraham, Joseph is made foster father of Jesus not merely by physical descent from David but \\u201cthrough the righteousness that comes from faith.\\u201d\\xa0 For as Abraham believed and so became \\u201cthe father of many nations,\\u201d so Joseph believed that it was \\u201cthrough the Holy Spirit that [Jesus] ha[d] been conceived\\u201d and \\u201cdid as the angel commanded him and took Mary into his home,\\u201d thus becoming a father to Him who would \\u201csave His people from their sins.\\u201d\\xa0 Like Abraham \\u201che believed, hoping against hope,\\u201d and like Abraham he is blessed. But, of course, Jesus is more than the Son of Joseph; in fact, this is the great sacrifice Joseph makes.\\xa0 For truly he cares for Him who is more Son to the Father in heaven and Son of Man, born for all the human race.\\xa0 Evident this is when He is found by Joseph and Mary in the temple after three days and He asks them (a question much like those He might have been putting to the teachers of the faith): \\u201cDid you not know that I must be in my Father\\u2019s house?\\u201d and in the curious fact that His parents waited a day before journeying back to Jerusalem to look for Him, for they were \\u201cthinking that He was in the caravan\\u201d \\u2013 so much a part of His people had He become. Jesus is Son of God and Son of Man, yet \\u201cobedient to them\\u201d \\u2013 Joseph and Mary \\u2013 He ever was.\\xa0 And they were ever obedient to the dictates of the Father, that they should care for His only Son.\\xa0 And so Joseph, husband of Mary, a simple carpenter, fulfills in simple fashion all the Lord had set out for him.\\xa0 May we, too, by faith fulfill all the care we must take for Jesus, His mother, and His people. Written, read & chanted by James Kurt; produced by Roger Fortney. Music composed and performed by Carie Fortney; used by permission. *******\\xa0 O LORD, let us dwell in your House forever. YHWH, your Son is known as the Son of David, the Son of Joseph the carpenter.\\xa0 And truly He is the fulfillment of your promise to the king that his son shall ever sit upon the throne.\\xa0 But He is conceived by the Holy Spirit: He is the Son of God.\\xa0 Give us the faith of Joseph that we might believe this and take Him into our home. In our houses He would dwell, in our very souls.\\xa0 Thus would He make them your House, dear Father, as is the soul of His Mother, and the soul of the righteous man we celebrate today.\\xa0 Your Church let us be, dear God; in faith let us ever remain. Your kindness to us is indeed great, O LORD; your very life you would share with us this day.\\xa0 In your kingdom let us make our home \\u2013 your sons and daughters let us be.\\xa0 Jesus sits upon the throne now, for He is the Christ.\\xa0 And so, your Covenant stands firm forever: all who believe in Him will be blessed. O LORD, make us righteous in your sight, even as the humble Joseph.\\xa0 In our lives let your will be done\\u2026\\xa0 In your Son let us make our home.'