Today is the optional memorial of St. Joseph the Workman. It was a little over a month ago (March 19) that we celebrated the feast of St. Joseph and we follow-up today remembering him as a worker and patron of all who labor.
The dignity of work has been a constant teaching of the Church. To work is to participate in God’s continual plan to bring all of creation to its fruition, to sanctify and develop what God has given to us as his sons and daughters. As the Bible tells us, we are charged by God to have responsibility for, to be stewards of, the created world. Because of that, work has a dignity and gives dignity to those who work for the betterment of humanity.
Working is a participation in God’s activity. Just as Jesus participated in the work of his step-father, Joseph, we too participate in the work of our heavenly Father when we labor for the benefit of ourselves and others.
This day brings to mind too the increasingly discussed moral obligation to be stewards of the natural resources of our planet. These resources are both animate and inanimate, i.e., they include plant and animal life as well as mineral and chemical resources. How we utilize the resources of the world in our work — what we produce and fabricate and distribute to others — has serious moral foundations. I wonder how often we think of this when we work for certain companies or enterprises that may be wasteful or unscrupulous in the use of natural resources, or example, factory farms or industries that seriously pollute the environment. Do we stop to think of whether we wish to work for someone or something that is extremely wasteful or exploitative, such as companies that employ what is essentially slave labor in undeveloped countries? Do we embrace responsible recycling of goods? Are we frugal? Do we work for the good of the poor as well as our own needs?
St. Joseph was a workman who directed his trade to support his family, to build a better community for his neighbors, to give meaning to the daily activity of his life, and to live out the vocation given him by God.
May we imitate him and pray for his intercession.
