Readings:
Gen
1:26-2:3; Ps
90:2, 3-4, 12-13, 14, and 16;
Mt 13:54-58
Commentaries
Daily
Gospel
Introduction
To the people of Nazareth, Jesus was known as the son of a laborer, the son of the carpenter. Yes, God’s Son born in a workman’s family, and like the young people of his time, presumably helping his father in the carpentry workshop. The readings of today also present human work as a cooperation with the creative act of God: we are stewards of creation, to whom God has entrusted the work of his hands. Let us work as stewards of one another and of God’s creation.
Opening Prayer
Creative God,
when by your word
you had accomplished your creation,
you entrusted it to people
whom you had created in your image
and you said: fill the earth and subdue it.
Fill us with your Spirit, Lord,
that we may preserve the beauty and order
of your magnificent creation
and that like St Joseph
we take up the task entrusted to us
of perfecting your creation
in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Liturgy of the Word
God said, "Let us make man in our image, to our likeness. Let them rule over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, over the cattle, over the wild animals, and over all creeping things that crawl along the ground." So God created man in his image; in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it, rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the sky, over every living creature that moves on the ground."
God said, "I have given you every seed-bearing plant which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree that bears fruit with seed. It will be for your food. To every wild animal, to every bird of the sky, to everything that creeps along the ground, to everything that has the breath of life, I give every green plant for food." So it was. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. There was evening and there was morning: the sixth day.
That was the way the sky and earth were created and all their vast array. By the seventh day the work God had done was completed, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work he had done. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on that day he rested from all the work he had done in his creation.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 90:2, 3-4, 12-13, 14, and 16
R. Lord, give success to the work of our hands.
or: R. Alleluia.Before the mountains were begotten
and the earth and the world were brought forth.
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
R. Lord, give success to the work of our hands.
or: R. Alleluia.You turn men back to dust,
saying, "Return, O children of men."
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. Lord, give success to the work of our hands.
or: R. Alleluia.Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O Lord! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. Lord, give success to the work of our hands.
or: R. Alleluia.Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
Let your work be seen by your servants
and your glory by their children.
R. Lord, give success to the work of our hands.
or: R. Alleluia.
Jesus went to his hometown and taught the people in their synagogue. They were amazed and said, "Where did he get this wisdom and these special powers? Isn't he the carpenter's son? Isn't Mary his mother and aren't James, Joseph, Simon and Judas his brothers? Aren't all his sisters living here? How did he get all this?" And so they took offense at him.
Jesus said to them, "The only place where prophets are not welcome is their hometown and in their own family." And he did not perform many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
The Church gives us this feast of St. Joseph the Worker as a reminder to us of the dignity of human labor. God Himself labored for six days to create the world, resting on the seventh. If work is befitting our God, then certainly it befits each of us.
Depending upon our attitude, the work that we do can be a burden or it can be a means by which we give God glory and honor. Unless the work is sinful, no person lacks the opportunity to render to God a great gift through his or her job performance. May St. Joseph who was no stranger to hard work, intercede for all who labor.
General Intercessions
As we celebrate St. Joseph today, let us being our General Intercessions before the Lord.
– Lord, we pray you for your Church. Let it honor St Joseph, its patron, through a responsible and dedicated leadership, we pray:
– Lord, we pray you for those in public office, that they may lead their people with wisdom and justice, we pray:
– Lord, we pray you for heads of families, including single parents, that they may be dedicated to their children, we pray:
– Lord, we pray you for laborers who live by the work of their hands; may they do their work conscientiously and take pride in it, we pray:
– Lord, we pray you for ourselves. May we be people who know how to serve and to live in our presence, we pray:
– Lord, may the help of St Joseph help us all to serve you with love. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord God, here is bread,
like the bread earned by St Joseph
for the family of Nazareth.
Turn it into the bread of life,
your Son Jesus Christ.
that he may keep us going
to carry out the task you have entrusted to us.
Make us look at all work, however humble,
as ennobling us in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
St. Joseph served the Holy Family
by the work of his hands.
Whatever task you have entrusted to us,
help us to put our heart in it
and see in it a way to serve people
and to give praise and glory to your name
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
“Is this not the carpenter’s son?” Human, the son of simple parents who had to work with their hands to earn the food of every day. And Jesus with them. The creator earning his bread. May you honor and respect work, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Claretian Publications MACAU