SERMON/REFLECTION/HOMILY FOR THE MEMORIAL OF ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER MAY 2023

Homily for the Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker. 

Genesis 1:26--2:3. Psalm 90:2,3-4,12-13,14,16. Matthew 13:54-58.

1st May has long been dedicated to working people.  In 1955, Pope Pius XII expressed the desire that on this day, the example of Joseph, the worker, be presented to Christian communities. The contemplation of Joseph is meant to enable us to grasp the meaning of human labour as our way of sharing in the creative power of God and cooperating in the building of a more just and Christian society where greater solidarity is achieved.

All work is a collaboration in God's own work of creation. In the first reading, we read the Genesis account of man in the work of creation. Sacred Scripture also tells us that God placed man in the garden of Eden to till and keep it (Gen.2:15). From the moment God created man, He wanted man to participate in his creativeness. Work for man from the beginning is a command of nature. All that original sin was to change the form of this cooperation. From the Book of Genesis, "Cursed is the ground because because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all days of your life.... . In the sweat of yours, you shall eat bread (Gen. 3:17-19).

Work done through Christ, in accordance with our love for God and our fellow men and women, can become true prayer and apostolate. No wonder Christ in today's Gospel has been associated with work. Hence, he was associated as the carpenter's son in today's Gospel (Matt.13:55).

Our Responsorial Psalm today says, "Give success to the work of our hands, O Lord." What are we making available for God to grant success? How do we take our work if truly we want God to grant us success? 

God has shown us in the account of creation the dignity of labour by him working for six days and resting on the seventh day.

St. Joseph was a tradesman who worked for his living. We should have recourse to him to ensure that the work we do never loses its innate dignity or value, for it is not uncommon that when God is forgotten, from the factory dead matter goes out improved, whereas the men there are corrupted and degraded. Our work, with the help of St. Joseph ought to leave our hands as a prayerful and pleasing offering to God.

St. Joseph had Jesus beside him while he worked. Let us ask St. Joseph to teach us the awareness of God's presence, which he had while he was engrossed in his work. Let us not forget, either, our mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, to whom this month is lovingly dedicated that begins today. Let us not forget to offer daily in her honour as we pray the Rosary a particular hour of work or study, each day better than the previous one, and more perfectly done.

May God, through the intercession of St. Joseph grant success to the work of our hands through Christ our Lord. Amen.