{"id":185,"date":"2010-05-01T07:47:08","date_gmt":"2010-05-01T11:47:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/?p=185"},"modified":"2010-05-01T21:30:18","modified_gmt":"2010-05-02T01:30:18","slug":"may-1-joseph-the-worker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/may-1-joseph-the-worker\/","title":{"rendered":"May 1 – Joseph the Worker"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today, May 1st, marks the Feast of the Joseph the Worker.\u00a0 The second reading from today’s Office of Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours includes text from Gaudium Et Spes: The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World<\/a><\/em> from the Second Vatican Council, paragraphs 33-34 (please note that the link provided here to the document is to the current translation of the document as provided on the Vatican website.\u00a0 It does not match the entire excerpt<\/em> in the Liturgy of the Hours.\u00a0 Please consult a breviary to see it as listed in the Office of Readings).<\/p>\n

What is the purpose of work?\u00a0 Many people today see work as something we do only to pay our bills and to\u00a0build up\u00a0wealth.\u00a0 If not for the building up of wealth, they would not want to work.\u00a0 Success in work can be seen as a mastery over the world.\u00a0 As the reading from\u00a0Gaudium Et Spes<\/a><\/em> says we have indeed become masters over much of creation of through the development of science and technology.<\/p>\n

We also acknowledge Genesis 1:28 <\/a><\/p>\n

God blessed them, saying: “Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion<\/em> over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Humans indeed have a special place in creation, having “dominion” over it.\u00a0 Yet, we are called to respect\u00a0all creation.\u00a0 As listed here “dominion” does not just mean “power.”\u00a0 We cannot read only this one verse from the creation story in the first chapter of Genesis.\u00a0 We need to read the whole chapter that acknowledges God as Creator of everything<\/em>.\u00a0 God in turn gives us dominion over creation.\u00a0 It is a gift.\u00a0 As a gift, we should treat it well.<\/p>\n

Genesis 2:15<\/a> says<\/p>\n

The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it<\/em>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

God has given us a purpose, “to cultivate and care for it.”\u00a0 This is “work.”\u00a0 It is not work limited to farming (caring for the garden).\u00a0 It helps us understand how we are called to work<\/em> in all things;\u00a0to care for all of creation.\u00a0 In turn, we are called to see the good of our work.\u00a0 God created for six days and on the seventh day God rested to appreciate the work he had done.<\/p>\n

St. Joseph is forever remembered as the adopted father of Jesus and as a dedicated carpenter.\u00a0 We are called to be dedicated workers in whatever work we do.\u00a0 As a carpenter Joseph may have built homes or furniture for people.\u00a0 He would have done it with care and done it to the best of his ability.<\/p>\n

Do you always work to the best of your ability?\u00a0 Or do you try to do as little as possible? \u00a0Do you use the skills you have been given as a gift for the good of all or just to make money for yourself?\u00a0 The second is not bad.\u00a0 We need money to provide for our own needs but money should not be a goal.\u00a0 Our goal should be to work for the good of all people.<\/p>\n

What does “work” mean to you?<\/p>\n

Peace,<\/p>\n

Fr. Jeff<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today, May 1st, marks the Feast of the Joseph the Worker.\u00a0 The second reading from today’s Office of Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours includes text from Gaudium Et Spes: The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World from the Second Vatican Council, paragraphs 33-34 (please note that the link provided here …<\/p>\n

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