May 1, 2019

Joseph the Worker

May 1, 2019:  Wednesday, 2nd week, Easter / St. Joseph the Worker

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Legend below
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For Psalm 34
For Psalm 90 (Joseph the Worker)

 The English translation of the penultimate invocation of the Our Father, now “Lead us not into temptation,” could become “abandon us not when in temptation.”  In that invocation, our dialogue with our Father enters the battle between our freedom and the snares of the evil one.  All modern translations of the original Greek are a little lame, but we all agree that God doesn't seek to put temptation in our way.  A father doesn't set traps for his children.

 Tribulation and temptation are present even in Jesus' life; this experience of the Son of God makes him completely our brother.  So many gospel passages, such as Jesus in the desert and in the Gethsemane garden, show us that God never leaves his son alone.  The same goes for us:  he's with us when he gives us life, during our lives, in moments of joy or trouble, in sadness or defeat, when we sin, he's always with us because a Father can't abandon us.

 When evil appears in the life of his children, he fights for their freedom.  He always fights for us; he's never against us. We pray, “lead us from times of temptation,” but when the time comes, “show us we're not alone, that Christ has already taken upon himself the weight of our cross and is calling on us to carry it with him, and help us to abandon ourselves to your Fatherly love.”

Read


 Easter weekday
  • Acts 5:17-26  The Sadducees jailed the Apostles, but an angel opened the prison doors and led them out.  They went to the temple and taught.  After the Sanhedrin sent for them, the officers returned to say," We found the jail locked and the guards stationed, but no one inside,” then someone reported, “They're teaching at the temple.”  Then the officers brought them, but without force because they feared being stoned.
  • Ps 34:2-9  "The Lord hears the cry of the poor."  Glorify the Lord; he answered and delivered me.  Look to him and be radiant with joy; the angel of the Lord delivers those who fear him.  Taste and see how good the Lord is.
  • Jn 3:16-21  God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so everyone who believes might have life.  God sent his Son to save, not condemn, the world.  The light came, but people preferred darkness; whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so their works may be seen as done in God.
  • Gn 1:26-2:3  "Let us make human beings in our image."  God said to them:  "Have dominion over the fish, birds, and all crawling things."  God found everything he made very good.  God completed the work he had been doing; he rested on the seventh day.  God made the seventh day holy....
    "Prosper the work of our hands"
    (Animate)
  • Col 3:14-15, 17, 23-24  Put on love, and let Christ's peace control you.  Whatever you do, in word or deed, do in the Lord Jesus' name from the heart, knowing he'll repay you; be slaves of the Lord Christ.
  • Ps 90:2-4, 12-14, 16  "Lord, give success to the work of our hands."  Fill us with your mercy,that we may sing for joy.  Show your deeds to your servants.
  • Mt 13:54-58  He came to his native place and taught in the synagogue.  Astonished, they said, “Where did he get such wisdom and deeds?  Isn't he the carpenter’s son?  Isn't Mary his mother? They took offense, but Jesus told them, “A prophet is without honor in his native place....”
Reflect
  • Creighton: God trusts us and wants us to be saved, but his gift runs counter to an achievement oriented, work obsessed society.  Though sometimes we prefer darkness, we must accept God's gift and strive to live in light....
    Liberation of St. Peter
    a la ter Brugghen [More]
  • One Bread, One Body:  "Set free in the open":  The apostles were set free from prison by the angel and were also freed from the fear that had kept them hidden before receiving the Spirit.  They "took their place" in public, preached, and taught about life in Jesus and in the Spirit.  The Lord set them free in the open; they were iron and brass against their opponents.  In Jesus, we need not live in fear.  "They shall turn to you" for consolation.  In the freedom of the Spirit, we can walk in light and the joy of the Lord and overcome the world.  "Light shines on in the darkness that didn't overcome it."  We began Easter Vigil in darkness, received the light of Christ from the Easter candle, and soon the dark Church was illuminated.  "Let your light shine."  In Jesus, you're the light of the world.
    Liberación de San Pedro/ Murillo
    [more]
  • Passionist: The creation account describes in beautiful rhythm God’s creation, with the creation of people as the climactic point in this outburst of God’s love.  Because we're made in God's image, we share God’s responsibility for creation.  Care for creation is a moral issue.  The Church lifts up Joseph as a model worker, who used his craft to protect and nourish the Holy Family and enhance nature's beauty.  Today many countries honor the dignity and contribution of human labor to our well-being.  By reminding us of the creation story and the place of human life and labor, we remember that each of us should work to enhance and respect our common home.
  • DailyScripture.net:  "God so loved the world...":  True lovers hold nothing back from their beloved.  God proved his love for us by giving us his best, his only Son, who offered his life for us.  Abraham's sacrifice of his only son prefigured Jesus' offering; it showed a redemptive love that embraces the whole world, and a personal love for each person God created.  God can't rest till his children have returned to him.  God loves each of us as if there were only one of us to love (Augustine).  God gives us the freedom to choose whom and what we'll love.  We can love the darkness of sin and unbelief or we can love the light of God's truth, beauty, and goodness.  If our love is guided by what's true, good, and beautiful, we'll choose for God and love him above all....
  • Universalis: St. Joseph the Worker:  The Christian view of work is not materialist; workers are people created in God’s image, and creation is an activity of theirs.  Our work echoes God's glorious work; it must not be wasted, abused, improperly paid, or directed to wrong ends.  An economic system shines when it gives many the chance to build something worthwhile; its shame, when people are coerced, by greed or poverty, into being “lumps of labor.”   See Wikipedia on Catholic social teaching."
Dress legend*
  • 'Key' tie pin:  "The jail was securely locked, but no one was inside" (1st reading E)
  • 'Clock' tie bar:  I will bless the Lord at all times (psalm E); 1,000 years in your sight are as yesterday (psalm J)
  • 'Car with mouth' pin:  His praise shall be ever in my mouth (psalm E)
St. Joseph the Worker
  • 'Caged lion' pin:  Cage bars look like prison bars (1st reading E)
  • 'Hands'pin:  Jealous Sadducees laid hands on the apostles and jailed them (1st reading E)
  • 'Stone' tie pin:  The officers didn't use force because they were afraid of being stoned (1st reading E)
  • 'Angel' pin:  The angel of the Lord led the apostles out of prison, delivers those who fear the Lord (1st reading E, psalm E)
  • 'Eyeball' pin:  "See the Lord's goodness; look to the Lord and be radiant..." (psalm E); God looked at what he made and found it very good (1st reading J)
  • 'Musical notes with "joy"' pin:  "...with joy" (psalm E); that we may shout for joy all our days (psalm J)
  • 'Phone' tie bar:  When the poor 'called,' the Lord heard (psalm E); the peace you were called to (2nd reading J)
  • 'Hearts' tie:  God so loved the world... (gospel E); put on love; whatever you do, do from the heart (2nd reading J); gain wisdom of heart (psalm J)
  • 'Crucifix':  ...that he gave his only Son (gospel E)
  • 'Street lamp with dark background' tie bar:  The light came into the world, but people preferred darkness.  Come to the light.... (gospel E)
  • 'Fish,' 'bird,' 'cow,' '[caged] lion' pins:  "Let people have dominion over fish, birds, and cattle" (1st reading J)
  • 'Abacus' tie pin:  "Be fertile and multiply" (1st reading J)
  • 'Plant' pin:  "I give you seed-bearing plants..." (1st reading J)
  • 'Tree' pin:  "...and every tree with seed-bearing fruit" (1st reading J)
  • 'Peace sign' tie bar:  Let Christ's peace control your hearts (2nd reading J)
  • 'Alps' pin:  Before the mountains were begotten... you are God (psalm J)
  • Dust-colored suspenders:  "You turn men back to dust" (psalm J)
  • Owl:  Teach us... that we may gain wisdom (psalm J); where did this man get such wisdom? (gospel J)
  • 'Sun' pin:  Fill us at daybreak with your kindness (psalm J)
  • 'Celebrate teaching' pin:  The apostles, freed from jail, taught (1st reading E); teach us to number our days aright (psalm J); Jesus taught the people in their synagogue (gospel J)
  • 'Hammer' and 'nail' pins:  "Isn't he the carpenter's son?" (gospel J)
  • 'Mary' pin:  Isn't Mary his mother? (gospel J)
  • '?' tie pin:  Questions in gospel (J)
  • White shirt and socks:  St. Joseph the Worker, Easter season
*E:  Easter weekday; J: St. Joseph the Worker
Special greetings to and prayers for the community at
St. Joseph the Worker Parish and School
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