Just a little laugh

Today begins our Lenten journey towards the Easter Triduum. In today’s Gospel at Mass, Jesus says to us, “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.” (Matthew 6:16) So, why not a little laugh today?

Joe on Spotify

I recently came across this playlist of songs that center on Joe and thought I would share. You can listen on the Grotto Network website or on the Spotify Playlist.

By the way, I'm diggin' his headphones.

Chain Of Love

I love country music - especially country music from the 90s. Although I don’t listen to country music as nearly as much as I used to, I still turn it on every now and again, sit back, and just let it soak in. The other day, the song “Chain of Love” by Clay Walker came on. As I listened this time, I realized that this could very well have been a song about Mary and Joe. I hope you watch this music video and see what I mean.

The Silent Builder

This last Sunday, we celebrated the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple. In other words, we celebrate the physical entrance of the Jesus into His House. In 1 Kings 6:7 we learn that when Solomon built the Temple, he had the stone cut and carved at the quarry “so that no hammer or ax, no iron tool, was to be heard in the house [of the Lord] during its construction.” This got me thinking. Perhaps, this was a foreshadowing of the Private or Hidden Years of Jesus - those years of which we know nothing of.

Joe is the Son of Solomon just as he is the Son of David. So, as the Lord’s  covenant with David is fulfilled by Jesus through Joe (2 Samuel 7:8-16), so also, the Lord’s covenant with Solomon will also be fulfilled by Jesus through Joe: “I will dwell in the midst of the Israelites and will not forsake my people Israel.” (1 Kings 6:13). Yet, there is a new twist in understanding this covenant when Jesus begins His public ministry for He reveals that He is the true Temple of the Father (John 2:21). The House of Nazareth was the quarry where the stone was cut and prepared for the construction. I don’t think it is coincidental that Joe was a carpenter, the “hammer, axe, and iron tool” were the tools of his trade.