Saint Joseph

2 Samuel 7:4,8-16

4 But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan,

8 Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. 9 And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’”

Psalm 89:1-4, (5-18), 19-29

1 My song shall be always of the loving-kindness of the LORD;*
  with my mouth will I ever be proclaiming your faithfulness, from one generation to another.

2 For I have said, “Mercy shall be built up for ever;*
  your faithfulness shall be established in the heavens.”

3 I have made a covenant with my chosen one;*
  I have sworn to David my servant:

4 “Your seed will I establish for ever,*
  and set up your throne from one generation to another.”

5 O LORD, the heavens will praise your wondrous works*
  and your faithfulness in the assembly of the saints.

6 For who in the clouds can be compared unto the LORD?*
  And who among the gods is like unto the LORD?

7 God is greatly to be feared in the council of the saints,*
  and to be held in reverence by all those who are round about him.

8 O LORD God of hosts, who is like you?*
  Your faithfulness, most mighty LORD, is round about you.

9 You rule the raging of the sea;*
  you still the waves when they arise.

10 You have subdued Rahab of the deep, and destroyed her;*
  you have scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.

11 The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours;*
  you laid the foundation of the world, and all that is in it.

12 You have made the north and the south;*
  Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in your Name.

13 You have a mighty arm;*
  strong is your hand, and high is your right hand.

14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;*
  mercy and truth shall go before your face.

15 Blessed are the people, O LORD, who rejoice in you;*
  they shall walk in the light of your countenance.

16 Their delight shall be in your Name all the day long,*
  and in your righteousness shall they make their boast.

17 For you are the glory of their strength,*
  and by your favor you shall lift up our might.

18 For the LORD is our defense;*
  the Holy One of Israel is our King.

19 You spoke in a vision to your saints, and said,*
  “I have set the crown upon one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.

20 I have found David my servant;*
  with my holy oil have I anointed him.

21 My hand shall hold him fast,*
  and my arm shall strengthen him.

22 The enemy shall not be able to do him violence;*
  the son of wickedness shall not hurt him.

23 I will smite his foes before his face*
  and strike down those who hate him.

24 My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him,*
  and in my Name shall his horn be exalted.

25 I will give him dominion over the sea,*
  and with his right hand shall he rule the rivers.

26 He shall say to me, “You are my Father,*
  my God, and the rock of my salvation.”

27 And I will make him my firstborn,*
  higher than the kings of the earth.

28 My mercy will I keep for him for ever,*
  and my covenant shall stand fast with him.

29 His seed will I make to endure for ever*
  and his throne as the days of heaven.

Romans 4:13-18

13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.

16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”

Luke 2:41-52

41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.