Saint Joseph the Worker (Workers’ Day)
Introduction
The Risen Lord makes the Apostles perform not only miracles but stark wonders – whether they are curing deceases, casting out demons or they are disappearing and appearing to the utter bewilderment of the religious leaders of the Jews. The latter know that the actions of the Apostles are clear signs of power from above, but they imagine that if they continue, they’ll surely lose their job and authority over the people. The Disciples have come to town, casting down every power and authority that stand against Jesus and his kingdom. Their tool: power of the Risen Lord.
The Church gives us one of the verses everyone must bear in memory. John 3:16. It doesn’t need much talk. ‘God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life.”
First reading Acts 5:17-26
The men you imprisoned are in the Temple, preaching to the people
The high priest intervened with all his supporters from the party of the Sadducees. Prompted by jealousy, they arrested the apostles and had them put in the common gaol.
But at night the angel of the Lord opened the prison gates and said as he led them out, ‘Go and stand in the Temple, and tell the people all about this new Life.’ They did as they were told; they went into the Temple at dawn and began to preach.
When the high priest arrived, he and his supporters convened the Sanhedrin – this was the full Senate of Israel – and sent to the gaol for them to be brought. But when the officials arrived at the prison they found they were not inside, so they went back and reported, ‘We found the gaol securely locked and the warders on duty at the gates, but when we unlocked the door we found no one inside.’ When the captain of the Temple and the chief priests heard this news they wondered what this could mean. Then a man arrived with fresh news. ‘At this very moment’ he said, ‘the men you imprisoned are in the Temple. They are standing there preaching to the people.’ The captain went with his men and fetched them. They were afraid to use force in case the people stoned them.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 33(34):2-9
This poor man called and the Lord heard him. or Alleluia!
I will bless the Lord at all times,
his praise always on my lips;
in the Lord my soul shall make its boast.
The humble shall hear and be glad. R.
Glorify the Lord with me.
Together let us praise his name.
I sought the Lord and he answered me;
from all my terrors he set me free. R.
Look towards him and be radiant;
let your faces not be abashed.
This poor man called, the Lord heard him
and rescued him from all his distress. R.
The angel of the Lord is encamped
around those who revere him, to rescue them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
He is happy who seeks refuge in him. R.
Gospel Acclamation Jn3:16
Alleluia, alleluia!
God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son:
everyone who believes in him has eternal life. R.
Alleluia!
Gospel John 3:16-21
At that time: Jesus said to Nicodemus: ‘God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life. For God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world, but so that through him the world might be saved. No one who believes in him will be condemned;
but whoever refuses to believe is condemned already, because he has refused to believe in the name of God’s only Son. On these grounds is sentence pronounced: that though the light has come into the world men have shown they prefer darkness to the light because their deeds were evil. And indeed, everybody who does wrong hates the light and avoids it, for fear his actions should be exposed; but the man who lives by the truth comes out into the light, so that it may be plainly seen that what he does is done in God.’
Happy Workers’ Day!
Commentary
In Nigeria St Joseph the Worker is celebrated as an Optional Memorial, that’s why the readings presented here are those of Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter. However, our regular short commentary will centre on the holy gentle man, Joseph, the Carpenter, the one who earned his daily bread and that of the Holy Family by cheer manual labour. And Jesus was properly called “Son of the Carpenter”.
Thus, we celebrate Labour Day, or as known elsewhere in the world ‘Worker’ Day’. “By the labour of your hands, you shall eat” (Ps 128:2),
The Church celebrates the feast of St. Joseph the worker instituted by Pope Pius the X11 in 1955 in commemoration of Joseph who was a committed and hardworking man and who contributed to the development of his society through his carpentry work and thus became Patron Saint of all workers, all labourers.
God has blessed each and every one of us with various jobs, be it in the armed forces, civil, religious or commercial. These various jobs are vocations. God calls us through them to be faithful and trustworthy in them. Today’s feast challenges us to be contented and hardworking. The Bible says, ”he who does not work should not eat” (2 Thes 3:10). And Work they say is a sure remedy against adversity. Moreover, the humble nature of Joseph and his profession make carpentry very ordinary – a job reserved for the poor, suffering man. Never dare you call any young man a carpenter who is involved with furniture making, upholstery making, roof builder etc.). While we may not all be called to be carpenters (hitting the hammer on the anvil) we must imitate Joseph in his duty consciousness, care for family and simplicity. Let us remember that Jesus was formed in Joseph’s forge. Let’s be up and doing and like holy Joe contribute meaningfully to the development of our society through our various works.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
Blessing
God made the world. He worked for six days, the Bible tells us at the beginning of the Pentateuch. As we make efforts to continue the work of creation and recreation through our different labours, let us pray for fair and just wages for our workers. And may the labours of our hands not be in vain in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!