St Joseph the worker Michael Adams 960 Joseph the Worker by Michael Adams

Work as a Means of Sanctification

Picture St. Joseph sweeping the wood shavings and the sawdust at the end of the day in his carpentry shop while Jesus arranges their tools in a box or shelf. St. Joseph proceeds to count the earnings. He then hands it to the Blessed Mother for disbursement for their household needs. Around the table while eating, St. Joseph probably recounts the transactions of the day and thinks of those for the next day. Perhaps, the Blessed Mother and Jesus contribute to the creative design of a rocking chair that had been ordered, and so the materials need to be purchased the next day. Also, perhaps, the family talks about, among other things, a client of theirs who wanted a dining set but kept on haggling to the point that the profitability was wiped out. The next day, St. Joseph and Jesus pass by a prospective client who wants to replace his ceiling joists. On their way back, laden with materials that they have purchased, they chanced upon a former client of theirs who missed paying the final installment for the repair of their farm fence because of financial difficulties brought about by the untimely sickness of one of the members of the family. Others had an excuse of a ruined harvest which St. Joseph wrote off his books.

The Holy Family clearly has similar experiences that we can relate to our day-to-day existence. Jesus lived through it all: observing, assisting, learning the trade, and its routine tempo of work – preparation, down to the details of the trade. He is no stranger to work. His parables later on are down-to-earth examples that no Jew could miss. His audience could easily relate and understand, say, when He talks about the house built on solid rock that can withstand a storm versus the house built on sand, or, laborers in the market waiting to be hired, the parable of the vineyard or the parable of the sower. Even the forgiveness of debt owed by a servant to his master, and the talents given by the king to his servants which he expected to be traded. These stories have been born out of His experience with the company of St. Joseph.

All of us have been given gifts by God. To achieve our potential, we have to work. A student who studies, a doctor or an engineer who continues to improve through further studies will serve better. A farmer who improves efficiency, thus reaps greater harvests. All these works increase our dignity and give glory to God who is the giver of gifts. When we do our work well, as St. Josemaría tells us, “…we sanctify our work, ourselves, and others.” Work truly is a means to our sanctification. The God of creation made us work to subdue the earth. We are his custodians.

Let us keep this day as an opportunity to reflect on our trade or profession. Do we please God through our day-to-day work? Let us honor and pray for the people who strive to make this world a better place. Let us go to the Blessed Mother who involved herself in the everyday family efforts, pleasing to God. (Johnny Sulit)

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