Today's Gospel March 19 2020 with comment

From the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 1,16.18-21.24a.
Jacob fathered Joseph, Mary's husband, from whom Jesus called Christ was born.
Here is how the birth of Jesus Christ occurred: her mother Mary, being promised Joseph's bride, before they went to live together, found herself pregnant by the work of the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, who was righteous and did not want to repudiate her, decided to fire her secretly.
But while he was thinking about these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said to him: «Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary, your bride, because what is generated in her comes from the Spirit Holy.
She will give birth to a son and you will call him Jesus: in fact he will save his people from their sins ».
Awakened from sleep, Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had ordered.

San Bernardino of Siena (1380-1444)
Franciscan priest

Discourse 2 on Saint Joseph; Work 7, 16. 27-30 (translated from the breviary)
St. Joseph, faithful guardian of the mysteries of salvation
When divine condescension chooses someone for a singular grace or for a sublime state, she grants the chosen person all the charisms that are necessary for her office. Of course they also bring honor to the chosen one. This is what has come true above all in the great Saint Joseph, putative father of the Lord Jesus Christ and true husband of the queen of the world and lady of the angels. He was chosen by the eternal Father as a faithful guardian and protector of his main treasures, his Son and his bride, and fulfilled this task with the greatest assiduity. Therefore the Lord says to him: Good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord (Mt 25, 21).

If you place Saint Joseph before the whole Church of Christ, he is the chosen and singular man, through whom and under whom Christ was introduced into the world in a natural and honorable way. If, therefore, the whole holy Church is indebted to the Virgin Mother, because she was considered worthy to receive Christ through her, so in truth after her she owes special gratitude and reverence to Joseph.

In fact, he marks the conclusion of the Old Testament and in him the great patriarchs and prophets achieve the promised fruit. Indeed, he alone was able to enjoy the physical presence of him whom the divine condescension had promised them. Certainly Christ did not deny him that familiarity, that reverence and that very high dignity in heaven that he showed him while living among the names, as a son to his father, but rather he brought it to the maximum of perfection. Therefore it is not without reason that the Lord adds: "Enter into the joy of your Lord."

So remember us, O blessed Joseph, and intercede with your putative Son with your powerful prayer; but make us also the most blessed Virgin your bride, who is the Mother of him who lives and reigns over the centuries with the Father and the Holy Spirit.