Thursday 1 May
Saint Joseph the Worker
Thursday of the 2nd week of Eastertide
First reading Genesis 1:26-2:3
On this Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, the reading from Genesis (1:26–2:3) invites us to contemplate work as a sacred reality rooted in the very act of creation. God, who made man and woman in His own image, entrusted them with the stewardship of the earth, an invitation not merely to use creation, but to collaborate with the Creator in shaping it responsibly and reverently. In this perspective, labour is not a burden or a punishment, but a noble expression of human dignity and vocation. The light of Easter, which illumines all aspects of life with the hope of resurrection, allows us to see that work is not just about earning a living or achieving results; it is a path to communion with God and service to others. It becomes a means of sanctification when animated by love, justice, and dedication. St. Joseph, the silent guardian of the Redeemer, exemplifies this truth through his hidden, faithful labour, transforming the workshop of Nazareth into a place of grace. In him, we see that every honest task, no matter how humble, is a participation in God’s ongoing creation and a contribution to the redemption of the world. Let’s reflect: Easter is the radiant celebration of Christ’s Resurrection that transforms every aspect of life, including human labour, into a sacred participation in God’s creative and redemptive work.
Don Giorgio