DATE : 1/5/2021
EVENT : Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter/St. Joseph the worker
COLOUR: White
READINGS : Acts 13:44-52;
Resp. Psalm 97:1-4; John 14:7-14.
THEME: TO WORK IS A DIVINE MANDATE
Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this first day of May, which is the sixth day of the fourth week of Eastertide, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " To Work Is A Divine Mandate". Beloved, I wish to welcome and congratulate you for making it with me into this new month. May, is the fifth month of the lunar calendar. I pray that this month which is dedicated to Mary will bring us God's blessings, protection and favours. In the same line, today is also the optional memorial of St. Joseph the worker. It is a day in which we take out time to celebrate all workers and labourers, to reflect on the dignity of work and to encourage our workers to continue delivering on their various jobs diligently. The work we do echoes the glorious work that God has done (Cf. Gen. 1:1-2:10). Thus, all forms of work, has a divine origin; so, it should not be wasted, abused; improperly paid, and directed to wrong or pointless ends. To do any of these things defames the divine origin of work. The joy of every economic system is when it is able to give so many persons, the chance to build and create something worthwhile for themselves. But, it becomes a shame when that does not happen: when people are coerced, by greed or by poverty, into being “lumps of labour.” Whether the labour is arduous or not makes no difference; whether it is richly paid or not, makes no difference (Cf. Catholic Universalis )
In the Gospel reading of today, Jesus told his disciples that those who will believe in future, will do greater work than he did. Now, if we interpret this to mean spiritual works leading to salvation, let us not also forget that as Joseph the carpenter's son, Jesus must have learned and effectively worked as a carpenter, before beginning his ministry. So, the phrase, 'I tell you most solemnly, whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, he will perform even greater works,
because I am going to the Father'. Could also mean greater Manuel works that can provide a descent living conditions for everyone. This goes s long way to add credence to the divine mandate of Gen. 1:27-28. Thus, whatever work we are engaged in, let us see it as a participation in the divine acts of continuing creation inorder to make the world a beautiful and better place.
Child of Job, as we celebrate St. Joseph's the worker's day today, I enjoin on you to persist in your job, no matter how undignifying it may appear. If you are an employer of labour treat, your labourers with justice and equity so that God will be happy with you. If you are still searching for a work and means of supporting your self, I beckon on you to enter into a serious devotion to St. Joseph the worker and you will be shocked at what he will do in your life. Today's celebrations also forbids all forms of receiving income which is contrary to holiness, right action, legal prescription and unjustly rob others of their belongings.
Oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts (Ps.95:7-8).
LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, following your divine mandate on work, I pray you to help me to be effectively engaged in both spiritual work and economically paying work.
The Lord be with you....... and with your Spirit.
May Almighty God bless you in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit ....Amen
HAPPY WORKER'S DAY TO YOU MY BELOVED WORKERS
@ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪
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