Carmelitemissionaries

St. Francis Xavier Province, India

Wednesday, May 1

St.Joseph The Worker



  Today the church celebrates the feast of St. Joseph the worker. It is a day to reflect on our collaboration in God’s work. Here are two diametrically opposed ways of looking at work: it can be seen as a curse or as co-creation with God. Both views are present in the Bible but the general thrust of the Church’s teaching is the latter. Through work we share in the creative action of God. 

We know from the gospels that Joseph was a carpenter – indeed Jesus is identified by Joseph’s trade on a few occasions. This was, and is, skilled work that needed a variety of talents. Working with natural materials the carpenter can bring useful and beautiful things into being. And that should be how we see our work – whatever we do for a living.

Work properly approached and freely undertaken can lead us to God as we realise our part in his creative action, as we undertake tasks that are useful to others, and in the words of Mother Teresa, make something beautiful for God. Work becomes a curse when we make it an idol or the only thing that matters in our lives. It also becomes a curse when men and women are defrauded of their just wages, and against that sin the Church’s voice needs to be raised loud and clear.

From his place in heaven, St. Joseph is the patron saint of the universal Church.  It is to the Church that God gives the promise that He will strengthen us in all our responsibilities, in the promises that we make, in our vocation as a disciple of Jesus.  We trust that Joseph continues to pray for the Church universal, and for each of us as members of that Church, in our work for the Kingdom.

Faith nourished by prayer:  this is the most precious treasure that Saint Joseph transmits to us. Generations of fathers have followed in his footsteps who, with the example of a simple and laborious life, imprinted on their children's souls the inestimable value of faith, without which every other good runs the risk of being in vain. So even now, Let us assure all fathers a special prayer, on the day dedicated to them and ask God that they be men of a robust interior life, in order to fulfill their mission in the family and society in an exemplary way.

Am I aware that my daily work is rooted in the Work of God the Father?

May St. Joseph pray for us that we through our work may bring many people to God.

Sr.Santana Rosario

  HAPPY FEAST !!!!!!!!
       

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