St. Joseph Church

Today we celebrate the 1^st of May, Traditionally called “May Day” throughout the World.  This is a day that we celebrate the coming of spring, new life, and the coming to the end of the cold, long, seemingly never ending, winter.  But May 1^st is also a time to celebrate the dignity of working at our Jobs!  

Yet, we still find ourselves amidst the fear of spreading the Coronavirus.  Our State, City, businesses, and industry are “itching” to get back to work again.  But people are still afraid.  Well, good friends, what should we do?  Great people of the Lake Region, it is time to be responsible, wise, and use our human genius that God has given us to live life again and GO BACK TO WORK.

Today I ask you to celebrate the ability to “Work!”  What???  Work???  Yes, you read it right; it is a day to celebrate the 6 days our Awesome God gave us to work.  Our work in this world is to care for, utilize, and live by the fruits of our Labor!  To share in God’s creative activity (work) is a gift from God Himself.  The drudgery and pain we sometimes experience is a consequence of the “original sin” of our first parents.  But work was not originally intended by God to bring sadness, pain and separation.  God’s work of creation brings joy, dignity, and closeness to everyone!

After the consequences of the Coronavirus, we all can hardly wait to get back to a normal life, and start working again. Work, dear friends, helps one to use the gifts and talents to build up with God the creation around each and every one of us!

Work brings dignity and direction into one’s life.  At certain times our work can become tedious, and yes, even “boring” at times.  But it is does not mean that it is unbeneficial for “we” mere humans.  Our work gives honor of God for the ability He has gifted to each of us! 

When the Christian studies the life of Jesus, He worked with His hands, mind and ability.  Jesus was in daily contact with the things of this world, to which He gave form by His craftsmanship as carpenter and Redeemer. It is striking that most of our Blessed Lords life (30 private years before his 3 years of Public Ministry) was dedicated to a simple way of life which awakened no admiration from His neighbors in Galilee: “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?” (Mark 6:3). 

In the beginning God entrusted the earth and its resources to the common stewardship of humankind. The human person was to take care of the Earth, master it by the labor of his hands, and enjoy the Earth’s fruits.  The ability to own property is legitimate for guaranteeing the freedom and dignity of each person and for helping each of us to meet our basic needs and the needs of those we care for such as our family.

Moreover, Today, we celebrate a Feast Day in the Church called “St. Joseph the Worker!”  St. Joseph’s work was also his vocation:  to protect Mary and Jesus and to supply for his “HOLY” family’s needs!  So, good people of the Lake Region, when we go back to work, let us take a fresh approach and appreciation of the ability to work and make a living for ourselves.  With this gift of working we are to share what we have received with others, as God shares His creation with us, so we can serve God on Earth.  God Bless and Protect you all as we enter more fully into spring and engage in the fullness of “New Life” that God has given us in our daily work! Happy May Day!