The Gift of Work

St Joseph the Worker 

01 May 2018

First reading                                                                       Genesis 1:26-2:3
God said: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground." God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them, saying: "Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth." God also said: "See, I give you every seed-bearing plant all over the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food; and to all the animals of the land, all the birds of the air, and all the living creatures that crawl on the ground, I give all the green plants for food." And so it happened. God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good. Evening came, and morning followed—the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth and all their array were completed. Since on the seventh day God was finished with the work he had been doing, God rested on the seventh day from all the work he had undertaken. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation. 
Gospel                                                                     Matthew 13:54-58

Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue.
They were astonished and said,
"Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?
Is he not the carpenter's son? Is not his mother named Mary
and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?"
And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them,
"A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and in his own house."
And he did not work many mighty deeds there
because of their lack of faith.

Reflection

By Pietro S. Albano

Work has been an essential part of our life since the world was created. In the First Reading, we read how God has given us dominion over His creation. Such dominion requires work. Take for example how the farmers till the land patiently so that we could have rice, fruits, vegetables, etc. Or the fishermen catching bangus, salmon, oysters, etc. Or the teacher preparing and delivering mind-challenging lessons for her students. Or perhaps a parent working abroad for their family's better future. At times, work gets the better of us that we don't have anytime for God such as attending Mass. There are also occasions when we don't have time for our family either.

Through work, St Joseph provided for Jesus and Mary. We could just imagine the effort and sacrifices he made to ensure that there is food on the table and roof under their heads. We could only imagine how busy he was. And yet, he remained docile to God's will through prayer and living in the presence of Christ. Fr Gabriel of St Mary Magdalen, OCD once wrote "Saint Joseph teaches us the blessed secret of a life of combined activity and contemplation, so that, following his example, we may give ourselves to the active life without neglecting our life of intimate union with God." As we celebrate Labor Day, let us think of the benefits of work, be grateful, and work assiduously.  Let us also think of those times when we have been too preoccupied with work and ask St Joseph to teach us his secret.

Prayer

Loving Father, we thank You for entrusting the care of the world to us through the gift of work. Through the example and prayer of St Joseph, may we always give ourselves generously for Your glory and in the service of Your people. Amen.

St Joseph, Patron of Workers, pray for us.