st. joseph works
"Isn't this the carpenter's Son?" —Matthew 13:55
For decades, May Day was the occasion for Communist countries to parade their military power. On this day in 1955, Pope Pius XII inaugurated the celebration of St. Joseph the Worker. It seemed comical, even absurd, to raise up Joseph to challenge the Communist military machine on its May Day march, but look at what has happened! The disintegration of Communism is often attributed to the Lord working through Mary. Mary's Fatima prophecies definitely have had much to do with the upheaval in the former Soviet Union, the Baltic States, and Eastern Europe.
However, we shouldn't overlook that the Lord has transformed the world through Joseph and through simple, common, obscure workers like him. Therefore, "whatever you do, work at it with your whole being. Do it for the Lord rather than for men" (Col 3:23). "Be slaves of Christ the Lord" (Col 3:24).
Our obscure lives and routine work can change the world if we have faith enough to work for Jesus. The Lord is speaking to us: "Take courage, all you people of the land, says the Lord, and work! For I am with you, says the Lord of hosts" (Hg 2:4).
Prayer: Father, thank You for using the little people, the "nobodies," to transform this world (see 1 Cor 1:28).
Promise: "God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work He had done in creation." —Gn 2:3
Praise: St. Joseph worked with his whole being to serve his family. He is the patron of the universal Church. Praise You, Lord, for choosing to work so powerfully through St. Joseph!
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our leaflet Job Performance for Jesus or on audio AV 43-4 or video V-43.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 3, 2008
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