mychurch@stjosephbogota.org
201-342-6300
St. Joseph Church
  • Menu Canvas
    • OUR PARISH
      • About
      • Mission Statement
      • Current Bulletin
      • Calendar
      • Carpenter Newsletter
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • History
      • Parish Registration
      • Parish Staff
    • MINISTRIES
      • Parish Administration
      • Prayer & Worship
      • Catechesis
      • Community Building
      • Comunidad Hispana
      • Justice & Charity
      • Saint Joseph Youth Ministry
    • FAITH FORMATION
    • SACRAMENTS
    • NEWS
    • MONTH OF MARY
mychurch@stjosephbogota.org
201-342-6300
St. Joseph Church
  • OUR PARISH
    • About
    • Mission Statement
    • Current Bulletin
    • Calendar
    • Carpenter Newsletter
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • History
    • Parish Registration
    • Parish Staff
  • MINISTRIES
    • Parish Administration
    • Prayer & Worship
    • Catechesis
    • Community Building
    • Comunidad Hispana
    • Justice & Charity
    • Saint Joseph Youth Ministry
  • FAITH FORMATION
  • SACRAMENTS
  • NEWS
  • MONTH OF MARY

Lessons from the River

Homepage Daily St. Joseph Reflection Lessons from the River
Daily St. Joseph Reflection

Lessons from the River

March 9, 2021
By Fr. Scott
0 Comment
576 Views
What lesson can we get from the life of St. Joseph? Here’s a group of students who reflected on the life of St. Joseph during their recollection besides the river and asked their teacher, “Why do you just stand at the river’s edge for a longer time and stare at the water? What did you see there?”
 
He did not immediately answer. Nor did he look away from the continuously flowing stream. Finally he spoke up with, “Flowing water teaches us how to live:
“Wherever it flows it brings life and shares itself with everyone who needs it. A river is kind and generous.
“It knows how to level off the unevenness of the landscape. It is just and fair.
“It throws itself over cliffs into the depths of the valleys without even slowing down. It is courageous.
“Its surface is flat and smooth, but underneath it can hide churning current. A river is wise.
“It flows around rocks that hinder its progress. A river is tolerant.
“But at the same time it works day and night to get that hindrance out of its way. A river is tireless.
“No matter how many windings and detours it must make, it never loses sight of its goal: the sea. A river is single-minded.
“No matter how often it gets dirty, it keeps on trying to get clean again. A river is able to keep renewing itself.
“Those are my reasons for staring at the flowing river. It teaches me to live correctly.
 
Comparatively, St. Joseph is like a river we can learn at. When he faced difficult problems, he led his pregnant wife on a long journey to Bethlehem, found a place for her to have a baby and fled his family to Egypt. He did his duty, simply, faithfully, loyally, dependably. To that extent, Joseph speaks to everyone to us now: do what you can do to be caring, compassionate and helpful. Stay loyal and faithful to your beliefs and convictions. Do your duty. You make this world a better place.
 
St. Joseph was a dreamer. He dreamed of a savior Jesus and followed to the end. As such Joseph speaks to us who desperately dreams that things could be better. He reminds us to cherish and hold on to our dreams. Have faith. Look: Mary of Nazareth became a queen of heaven. Joseph, the dreamer eventually emerged from the shadows and the whole world now knows him as St. Joseph. So have faith in God. Remember Joseph. Cherish your dreams.
 
Joseph had swallowed his pride. He lost himself in obedience to the greater good, to God. He had struggle with doubts and desperately search for answers. He lost his wife to God. But again, he also knew that God would have the last word, that God in time could make loss the very conditions of compassion, service and growth. He knew that, although scars would remain, and grief would now and then openly assert itself, loss could be the seeding place of quiet greatness.
 
St. Joseph, our role model is a man for our seasons. Let St. Joseph’s steadfastness and example be yours.

Previous Story
Forgiveness
Next Story
The Silence of St. Joseph

Related Articles

Virtues of St. Joseph

Patron of Dying and Solace of the Afflicted What a...

What Made St. Joseph So Great?

He wasn’t immaculately conceived as our Blessed Mother was. He...

Recent Post

  • Six Flags Great Adventure Trip Wednesday, 10, May
  • Lenten Lessons from Relevant Radio Wednesday, 22, Feb
  • 2023 Lenten Regulations Thursday, 16, Feb
  • Earthquake Relief for Syria and Turkey Thursday, 9, Feb
  • Feast of St. Blaise Thursday, 2, Feb

Our Mission:
We, the people of Saint Joseph Church, by the grace of God, born again in the waters of Baptism, seek to create a community where our mutual faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior, encourages us to continue growing as disciples.

OUR LOCATION

115 East Fort Lee Rd, Bogota, NJ 07603

OFFICE HOURS
Mon, Wed:11am – 8pm
Tue, Thu:11am – 4pm
Fri:11am – 7pm
Sat:9am – 4pm

CONTACT US
Phone: 201-342-6300
Email: mychurch@stjosephbogota.org

Copyright ©2023 St. Joseph Church.
SearchPostsLogin
Wednesday, 10, May
Six Flags Great Adventure Trip
Wednesday, 22, Feb
Lenten Lessons from Relevant Radio
Thursday, 16, Feb
2023 Lenten Regulations
Thursday, 9, Feb
Earthquake Relief for Syria and Turkey
Thursday, 2, Feb
Feast of St. Blaise
Friday, 20, Jan
Carpenter Newsletter

Welcome back,