For those that don’t love God or those that have a weak relationship with Him, God seems like a rule-making taskmaster.
He’s like a spouse that you don’t really love, who you view as demanding all kinds of things. This makes it very hard to want to do what He asks.
In fact, you’d sooner just leave this Person behind who does nothing but demand your time and tell you what you can and cannot do.
For many, all they can see is the list of dos and don’ts from God and they seem like the biggest burdens ever.
Mass is boring.
Confession is unnecessary.
Holy Days of Obligation contains the nasty o-word.
The Ten Commandments are a kill-joy.
The Church’s teachings are legalistic.
But, when you love God, all of these things become easy to do and you desire to do them. Just like when you truly love your spouse, you don’t mind doing things for them and meeting their needs or wants. In fact, you desire to do it for them.
St. Joseph, whose feast day is today, loved God and strived to do what He asked. We know he was a good Jew, following the teachings of Judaism. We know he led His family away from danger. We know he watched over Mary and Jesus with loving care. We know he provided for his family by working hard.
He did all these things well, Catholic Pilgrims, because he loved God well. Love always helps to lift the burden of what we are asked to do even when it’s difficult.
St. Joseph, pray for us!
*Old St. Joseph’s in Philadelphia. This parish is the oldest in Philadelphia, being founded in 1733. The “current building was dedicated in 1839.”
