Daily Thoughts: I opted to
celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker today at mass and I used the
readings for the feast. This feast in honor of St. Joseph always takes me back
to my childhood. Our parish in Port Vue, PA, was named St. Joseph. It honored
St. Joseph as the Worker. Out in front of the school building (our church we in
the basement of the school) was a statue of St. Joseph with the tools of the
trade in his hands, carpenter’s tools, the tools of a man who worked with his
hands.
It was a wonderful image for the parish
as most of the people in the parish worked for the steel industry. They worked
in the many steel mills that ran long the rivers of Western Pennsylvania. It
was a blue collar town, a town of families, a town of workers. The ethic of
family life and working hard was a daily part of my world growing up. This is
not to say that I lived in “Camelot,” that everything was perfect and life for
everyone was wonderful. There were struggle, problems, heartaches and sadness
along with the joys, hopes and the good times of life. But St. Joseph the
Worker as the patron of the parish spoke to a simple vision of life that the
people of Port Vue and many other towns tried to live out.
I returned to my hometown many years
later. The church building was still there and so was the statue of St.
Joseph. However, like in many places it
was no longer St. Joseph’s Parish; it had been merged with another parish in
the area and was now called St. Mark’s. The statue was in disrepair do to years
of neglect, much like my hometown which was now struggling because the steel
industry was long gone. It was still a blue collar town; it was still a town of
families but also a town struggling to find hope and a vision for the future.
Perhaps more than ever my home town needed St. Joseph’s spirit.
The feast we celebrate today honors the
spirit of St. Joseph, a simple man who in a quiet, yet strong way, responded to
God’s invitation. His skills as a worker and a father were not always honored
or valued as we hear in the Gospel reading today. Yet he lived on, he said
“yes” to God’s invitation. He lived his life with honor, hard work and love for
those around him. He was a blue collar worker, a family man, an ordinary person
who let God do extraordinary things with his life.
As a Church we sometimes let his image
fall into disrepair. He becomes an afterthought in a world of glitz and glamor
saints. Yet, St. Joseph will always remind us that everyone is created in the
image and likeness of God which makes each of us special and important to the
work of God in the world!
One of my grandfathers and my uncle were
gifted with the name Joseph and they were simple hard working men too and on
this feast of St. Joseph I remember them and honor them in a special way.
Have a great Friday everyone!
Daily Prayer: Loving God,
today we honor and remember Joseph, who by the work of his hands and the sweat
of his brow, supported Jesus and Mary, becoming an image of a loving father,
husband and faithful worker in your kingdom.
Teach us through St. Joseph’s spirit to
work as he did, with patience and perseverance, for you and for those whom you
have given us to support and love in our lives. Teach us to see in all workers,
Christ, that we may always be gracious and forgiving towards all.
Help us to look upon the work of life
with the eyes of faith and hope, so that we can recognize in it our share in
your own creative activity and Christ’s work of our redemption, and so find joy
and meaning in all the work we do.
When our work is satisfying and
productive, remind us to give you thanks. And when it is burdensome, teach us
to see beyond the struggles and hardships to the hope of a world made new that
our work through you can bring. In St. Joseph’s spirit make us workers for your
kingdom. Amen! (Adapted from a Prayer to St. Joseph)
A Runner’s Thoughts: Remember
running is not just conquering, hills, distance, weight, injury, illness or
pain. Running is most often conquering ourselves. We can try to do it alone but
it is so much easier when we let others journey with us and we are always at
our best when we run with God!
Daily Blessing: Friday
greetings and blessings to everyone! I hope your day has started out well,
perhaps with a little sun and warmth. It looks to be another beautiful day here
in St. Louis. I certainly have lucked out this week with great weather and I
have to say I have really enjoyed it! The month of May has arrived and so have
the flower, the trees and the colors, yes spring is certain with us.
This is the last morning of my retreat
for the priests of the Dioceses of Jefferson City. We will have a morning
conference, mass and lunch and then everyone will be on their way. I think it
has been a good week. I am never really sure but I think the priests have
enjoyed the retreat. I would once again ask your prayers for the priests that
have been on retreat as they return to their parishes and ministries. I will
head to my niece’s house here in St. Louis for the weekend before returning
home on Monday.
I pray that God blessing will be upon
everyone today, a blessing that helps you enjoy this first day of May where
ever you are and in whatever you are doing. Let all your work, all your labors,
all your ministry today be a gift to God, others and yourself. May the simple,
gentle presence of St. Joseph be with you today and gift you with a spirit of
energy, peace and joy. Happy May, happy St. Joseph’s Day everyone and may you
have a great Friday! Peace in Christ’s Passion and Hope in the Risen Lord…Fr.
Paul
