Joseph the Worker

May 1, 2014:  St. Joseph the Worker

National Day of Prayer

Readings

• Acts 5:27-33  High priest / Apostles:  “You defied our order to stop teaching.” / “We must obey God.  You killed Jesus, but God raised and exalted him; we're witnesses.”  They became infuriated and wanted to kill them.

• Ps 34:2, 9, 17-20  "The Lord hears the cry of the poor."  Taste and see God's goodness.  The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and delivers the just.

• Jn 3:31-36  The one who comes from heaven is above all and speaks God's word, testifying to what he's seen and heard.  The Father has given everything over to the Son.  Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.

Pope Francis

• For St. Joseph the Worker day: Remember human dignity and the common good. (Tweet)

Employment is essential for society, families, and individuals.  Work regards persons, their dignity, life, freedom, and happiness.  The primary value of employment is their good, because, it realizes them, making demands on their attitudes and abilities.  Without work, human dignity is wounded; the unemployed/underemployed risk marginalization and social exclusion.  Many slip into discouragement or apathy. (to Steelworkers 3-20-14) 

Give new impetus to employment, caring for the dignity of the person.  Many are victims of "slave labor," work that enslaves; they're at the service of their work, while work should rather offer them a service so they may have dignity. Combat trafficking in persons!  (Audience 5-1-13) 

Say 'thou shalt not' to an economy of exclusion and inequality; it kills.  Everything comes under the laws of competition and survival of the fittest, where the powerful feed on the powerless, so masses of people are excluded and marginalized, without work, possibilities, or means of escape—considered consumer goods to be used, then discarded.  (Evangelii Gaudium 53)

Today's readings

Music

• The cry of the poor/ Foley (psalm)

• Taste and see/ Hurd, Haugen, Moore, Vaughan Williams (another Vaughan Williams) (psalm)

Reflections

• Creighton:  Feel the tension between our just and still-unrepentant parts.  If you've been rescued, witness to it.

• One Bread One Body:   What is the Lord asking of you?  Obey, receive the Holy Spirit, and believe in the Spirit as never before.

• Passionist:  No prison can bottle up the Spirit of God.  For most of us, witness to the gospel be less dramatic but still demanding:  forgiving, seeking peace, working for justice, caring for the environment, sharing our faith, praying...

• Moved to greater love and new opportunities within and beyond my current work/ministry:  How has my work/contact with the poor been?  (Recall experiences, names, faces, related feelings...)  What have I learned from them?  What have I learned about how I relate?  How is God calling me?

• Universalis:  St Joseph the Worker:  The Christian view of work is not materialist.  Workers are persons created in God’s image who themselves create, echoing God's work; if they or the work are mistreated or misdirected, it's sacrilege.

• Sacred Space

Apparel

• "If we all work together" tie:  St.  Joseph the Worker

• Crucifix:  you had Jesus killed by hanging him on a tree (1st reading)

• "Pierced hearts" suspenders:  "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted" (psalm)

• "Keyboard with dove" tie pin:  "He doesn't ration this gift of the Spirit" (gospel)

• White shirt:  color of day/Easter season

Special greetings to and prayers for the community at St. Joseph the Worker parish, school, and preschool, including generous and talented parish music director Sr. Angela Faustina!

Dress your life!