Collect taken from the Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker
Collect: O God, Creator of all things, who laid down for the human race the law of work, graciously grant that by the example of Saint Joseph and under his patronage we may complete the works you set us to do and attain the rewards you promise. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son…
“O God, Creator of all things, who laid down for the human race the law of work“
– Labor and work are not a result of the fall. It is important to remember that God commanded Adam and Eve to till the garden even before they sinned. So, work, in and of itself, is supposed to be a good thing that fits into God’s design for us.
“graciously grant that by the example of Saint Joseph and under his patronage we may complete the works you set us to do and attain the rewards you promise”
– We say “graciously” because everything comes from the graciousness – the generosity – of God. Even our own ability to work is a gift of God, which is then crowned with the additional gift of being rewarded. This is true with manual labor and with all work – God was not satisfied with simply redeeming us outright, but wanted us to cooperate with and work towards our own redemption – that redemption includes also our jobs and our labor.
Questions & Advice: Do you see all work as a punishment to be endured? Have you accepted the lies of sloth and laziness that tell us we will only find happiness by avoiding hard work? Do you treat even your 9-5 job as work done “for the Lord” (Col 3:23)? Have you considered the reality that even menial work can make you holier?
Resolve today to offer your work to God and try to work toward having that attitude always. Read Gaudium et Spes 33 & 34, which talks about the value of work. Spend extra time in prayer for those who lack work or who suffer with unjust working conditions.
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| Sancte Ioseph, ora pro nobis! |