The worker

The Roman Catholic Lectionary for today, the feast of St Joseph the Worker, offers an opportunity to contemplate how the work we do in the world has its greatest value in the degree with which it cooperates with the Will of God. Our tradition often imagines Joseph in the role of carpenter. How did the work he did in his trade bear fruit for God? Certainly his position in the community was to work in an occupation. Christians can easily see the role of co-Creator in the building we do of things, systems and civilization among the people with whom we labour.  The fruit of Joseph’s work as protector of the Holy Family was a response in faith to the prompting of God. We are unaware of the role of work in shaping this decision of Joseph, but we know that the faith he demonstrated must have impacted how he did his work and how he related to his community. The manner in which acceptance of the invitation to follow Christ should be visible in the lives of the Gentiles was the debated in the early Church as it struggled to decide how many of the Jewish customs were appropriate for Gentiles called to be in communion with this sect of Judaism who recognized the Messiah in Jesus and sought the inspiration of the Spirit to lead them to produce fruit as workers in the vineyard of God. Friar Jude Winkler comments on the Eucharistic theme within the text from the Gospel of John which presents Jesus as the True Vine. The fruit which we hope to bear as branches connected to the Vine is that which the Father, who keeps the vines, desires. We need to be open to His growth instructions including that necessary pruning of self growth which we seek for our gratification and satisfaction. The work we do is about being workers in the vineyard of the Lord. Our plans, ambitions and even security need to be surrendered with thanksgiving as we join the psalmist in praise as we journey to the House of the Lord.