For the blessing of human labour. – St Joseph the worker.
Readings for St Joseph the worker
FIRST READING: Colossians 3:14-15, 17, 23-24 (JB)
PSALM: Ps 89:2-4, 12-14, 16 (JB). "Lord, give success to the work of our hands."
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Ps 67:20 (JB). "Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed be the Lord day after day, the God who saves us and bears our burdens. Alleluia!"
GOSPEL: Matthew 13:54-58 (JB)
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed Photo by Luke Jones on Unsplash
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the blessing of human labour.– St Joseph the worker by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-joseph-the-worker-on-the-dignity-of-human-work/s-FcVBzlGQfRl
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Prologue: This weekday Mass celebration is utilizing the prayers and readings from the Commemoration of Saint Joseph the Worker. Patron of all workers. A fitting celebration and commemoration on this Labour Day holiday here in Queensland and around the world. To capture the devotion to Saint Joseph within the Catholic liturgy, in 1870, Pope Pius IX declared Saint Joseph the patron of the universal Church. In 1955, Pope Pius XII added the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker. This silent saint, who was given the noble task of caring and watching over the Virgin Mary and Jesus, now cares for and watches over the Church and models for all the dignity of human work. In this time of pandemic, and huge economic disruption, we keep in mind all workers. Especially the wonderful medical people and the emergency services, and leaders making difficult decisions for the good of people's lives, and all essential industry workers, including teachers, and postal workers, truck drivers, construction and maintenance people...supermarket attendants, the list is too long to finish... We pray for workers who are struggling with the loss of jobs and income and businesses – suffering greatly too. We are all beloved children of God, who desires dignity and the needs and concerns of all to be heard.
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The Story of Saint Joseph the Worker
To foster deep devotion to Saint Joseph among Catholics, Pope Pius XII instituted the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker in 1955. This feast extends the long relationship between Joseph and the cause of workers in both Catholic faith and devotion. Beginning in the Book of Genesis, the dignity of human work has long been celebrated as a participation in the creative work of God. By work, humankind both fulfils the command found in Genesis to care for the earth (Gn 2:15) and to be productive in their labours. Saint Joseph, the carpenter and foster father of Jesus, is but one example of the holiness of human labour.
Jesus, too, was a carpenter. He learned the trade from Saint Joseph and spent his early adult years working side-by-side in Joseph's carpentry shop before leaving to pursue his ministry as preacher and healer. In his encyclical Laborem Exercens, Saint John Paul II stated: "the Church considers it her task always to call attention to the dignity and rights of those who work, to condemn situations in which that dignity and those rights are violated, and to help to guide [social] changes so as to ensure authentic progress by people and society."
Saint Joseph is held up as a model of such work. Pius XII emphasized this when he said, "The spirit flows to you and to all men from the heart of the God-man, Jesus the Savior of the world,/ but certainly, no worker was ever, more completely and profoundly penetrated by it than the foster father of Jesus, who lived with Him in closest intimacy and community of family life and work."(1)
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The long catholic tradition of appreciating the dignity of human labour reminds us that the economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God's creation. If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected--the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to the organization and joining of unions, to private property, and to economic initiative. (2)
As mentioned, the scriptures have much to say, directly, about God's view of human work and the dignity of every person.
Scripture
• Genesis 2:1-3
God rests on the seventh day.
• Genesis 2:15
God settles men in the garden of Eden to cultivate and care for it.
• Deuteronomy 5:13-15
The Sabbath is for everyone—all are allowed to rest from their work.
• Deuteronomy 14:28-29
The Lord blesses our work so that we may share its fruits with others.
• Deuteronomy 24:14-15
Do not withhold wages from your workers, for their livelihood depends on them.
• Sirach 34:26-27
To deprive an employee of wages is to commit murder.
• Isaiah 58:3-7
To observe religious practices, but oppress your workers is false worship.
• Jeremiah 22:13
Woe to him who treats his workers unjustly.
• Matthew 20:1-16
All workers should be paid a just and living wage.
• Mark 2:27
The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath.
• Luke 3:10-14
Practice integrity in your work.
• Luke 12:13-21
One's worth is not determined by an abundance of possessions.
• James 5:1-6
Those who become rich by abusing their workers have sinned against God.
Tradition
Work should be the setting for this rich personal growth, where many aspects of life enter into play: creativity, planning for the future, developing our talents, living out our values, relating to others, giving glory to God. It follows that, in the reality of today's global society, it is essential that "we continue to prioritize the goal of access to steady employment for everyone." We were created with a vocation to work. The goal should not be that technological progress increasingly replace human work, for this would be detrimental to humanity. Work is a necessity, part of the meaning of life on this earth, a path to growth, human development and personal fulfilment. Helping the poor financially must always be a provisional solution in the face of pressing needs. The broader objective should always be to allow them a dignified life through work. (Pope Francis, On Care for Our Common Home [Laudato Si. . . '], nos. 127-28) (2)
We must work, out of regard for others, especially our own family, but also for the society we belong to, the country of which we are a child and the whole human family of which we are members since we are the heir to the work of generations and at the same time a sharer in building the future of those who will come after us in the succession of history. (St. John Paul II, On Human Work [Laborem Exercens]. . . , no. 16) (2)
As the Church solemnly reaffirmed in the recent Council, "the beginning, the subject and the goal of all social institutions is and must be the human person." All men have the right to work, to a chance to develop their qualities and their personalities in the exercise of their professions, to equitable remuneration which will enable them and their families "to lead a worthy life on the material, social, cultural and spiritual level" and to assist in case of need arising from sickness or age. (Saint Paul VI, A Call to Action [Octogesima Adveniens. . . ], no. 14) (2)
Saint Joseph the Worker. Pray for us.
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly.
from - https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-joseph-the-worker/
The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers. From http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/the-dignity-of-work-and-the-rights-of-workers.cfm\
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed Photo by Luke Jones on Unsplash
For the blessing of human labour. – St Joseph the worker
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
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Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
Lord Jesus, you came to reconcile us to the Father and to one another: Lord, have mercy//You heal the wounds of our sin and division: Christ, have mercy// You intercede for us with the Father: Lord, have mercy//
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
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PREFACE: Preface (Saint Joseph the Worker)
Eucharistic prayer iii
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Go in Peace, glorifying the lord by your life.
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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
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Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly
Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)
Scriptures - Jerusalem Lectionary 1968. Darton, longman and Todd.
"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers.
Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney Australia).
- "Today I Arise" - For Patricia Kelly. Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
May God bless and keep you.
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