The Carpenter's Father

May 1: Memorial of Saint Joseph the Worker

The guy who draws Tomics really loves Joseph, so today’s post has a lot of adorable comics. Enjoy!

Reading 1

Col 3:14-15, 17, 23-24

Brothers and sisters: Over all these things put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one Body. And be thankful. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that you will receive from the Lord the due payment of the inheritance; be slaves of the Lord Christ.

St. Joseph didn’t gain riches or fame from being Jesus’ adoptive father. It’s not entirely clear if he knew exactly the significance of his adopted son. Obviously, He was important enough that God sent an angel to Joseph’s dreams four times,¹ but never once did they angel tell him why Jesus was so important.

Joseph doesn’t get mentioned again after the finding in the temple, so most people assume he passed away sometime in the 17 year gap between then and Jesus’ baptism. Jesus is called a carpenter in Mark,² so it’s safe to assume He inherited the family business for a time before becoming an itinerant preacher.

So Joseph led a quiet life as a manual laborer. Why? To provide for Mary and Jesus. He put food on the table, a roof over their heads. He probably taught Jesus his trade. He did it all out of love.

I’m sure he’s one of the first people Jesus greeted in Heaven after the Resurrection.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 90:2, 3-4, 12-13, 14 and 16

R.     Lord, give success to the work of our hands.
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.
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.
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.
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.

God is eternal, we are finite. But Jesus gives us the opportunity to become adopted sons and daughters of God. Our days on Earth are still limited, and we should do our best with what we have, but we’ll very soon be in His Glory forever.

Alleluia

Ps 68:20

R.    Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed be the Lord day by day,
God, our salvation, who bears our burdens.
R.    Alleluia, alleluia.

Who do you think Jesus learned that from?

Gospel

Mt 13:54-58

Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, "Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter's son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?"

And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house." And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.

The fact that the crowd from Jesus’ home town aren’t aware of His miracles implies he didn’t perform many in His childhood.³ So again, this backs up the theory that Joseph didn't know his "son" was the Messiah, the Son of God.

But unlike the other townspeople, that didn’t matter to him. He loved Jesus, took care of Him, took care of His mother. Love shouldn’t be withheld just because you’re not aware of a person’s accomplishments or potential.

Do your work, do it with love, to the best of your abilities. Don’t judge what others are doing with their abilities. That’s what St. Joseph the Worker teaches us.

1. Mt 1:20-21 ; Mt 2:13 ; Mt 2:19-20 ; Mt 2:22

2. Mk 6:3 ; In Matthew (13:55), Jesus is called a carpenter’s son, but obviously, Jesus is both.

3. Certainly none as publicly as at the Wedding Feast at Cana (Jn 2:1-25).