Reflection

2021 is the year of St Joseph. WITH A FATHER’S HEART: that is how Joseph loved Jesus, whom all four Gospels refer to as 'the son of Joseph'. May we all be people with a loving heart.

We know about St Joseph through the Bible. We know that Joseph was a lowly carpenter (cf. Mt 13:55), betrothed to Mary (cf. Mt 1:18; Lk 1:27). He was a 'just man' (Mt 1:19), ever ready to carry out God’s will as revealed to him in the Law (cf. Lk 2:22.27.39) and through four dreams (cf. Mt 1:20; 2:13.19.22). After a long and tiring journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, he beheld the birth of Jesus in a stable, since “there was no place for them” elsewhere (cf. Lk 2:7). He witnessed the adoration of the shepherds (cf. Lk 2:8-20) and the Magi (cf. Mt 2:1-12), who represented respectively the people of Israel and the pagan peoples.

An aspect of Saint Joseph that has been emphasized from the time of the first social Encyclical, Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum, is his relation to work. Saint Joseph was a carpenter who earned an honest living to provide for his family. 

From St Joseph, Jesus learned the value, the dignity and the joy of work. May this dignity and joy of work be reflected in what we do this year. It could be in the classroom, at home, at work, at a part time job. It could be paid or unpaid work. May this dignity and joy of work be evident in the way we conduct ourselves each day. May we ask St Joseph to pray for us when work is very challenging or even overwhelming. Work can occasionally get boring or repetitive but in whatever work we do it is good to remember the words of St Therese Lisieux – 'Do small things with great love'.

Holy Family of Nazareth – Be our inspiration and our guide.

Jesus of Nazareth – Help us to grow in faith, wisdom and knowledge.