Sunday:       Saint Joseph the Worker (International Workers' Day)
Date:         May 1, 2012
Year:         B
The readings: [Acts 11:19-26; Jn. 10:22-30]
The message:  St. Joseph, the model of workers.
Prepared by:  Catholic Doors Ministry
Total words:  1145

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Welcome my brothers and sisters in Christ to today's celebration of the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. Over and above the celebration of this Feast, we are celebrating another event that is called the "International Workers' Day." In its wisdom, the Holy Catholic Church deemed it proper to combine these two celebrations because in the person of Saint Joseph, we find the holiness that all workers as employers and employees should strive to achieve in their Christian lives.

When we review the life of St. Joseph who surely was a model worker worthy of imitating, we are left with no choice but to condemn many of the practices that go on in today's work places.

During the past twenty to thirty years, we members of society have become more and more aware of the international abuses by employers towards their employees. I am sure that most of you have heard of countries that use child labour in the manufacturing of their goods. Others, although denying it, use slavery as their means of gaining wealth. Some foreign manufacturers employ underpaid women who are required to work long hours and who barely make sufficient to support their families.

Over and above this, there are the big companies from some wealthy nations that take advantage of the poor nations. They drain their resources. They close their eyes to the mistreatment of workers or the usage of child labour, as long as they are making a dollar. And let us not forget our own country, its wealthy employers who pay minimum wages to its workers when it can afford to pay more. They place their personal comfort above all, closing their eyes to the poverty of their workers.

All of these practices result in ongoing work accidents, poverty, hunger, poor health, sickness and even death in some cases. The impact of such practices not only affects individual workers who may be the sole bread winner, but it also affects every member of their families.

Another area of abuse that we frequently hear of is when employers sexually harass their workers and situations where they expect sexual favours from them in return for compensation. And that is not restricted to men sexually harassing women. There are women employers who sexually harass their male workers. And there are male employers who sexually harass their male workers and female employers who sexually harass their female workers in order to satisfy their sexual deviancies.

When we consider the role of Saint Joseph as the head of his household and as protector of the Holy Family, we wonder how it is possible for some human beings to debase themselves to the extent that their worldly desires have overcome their spiritual obligations.

When God the Father entrusted the infant Jesus in the care of St. Joseph, was it for the purpose of child labour? Certainly not! When God the Father entrusted the Virgin Mary in the care of St. Joseph, was it as a sexual object? Certainly not!

As a carpenter, Saint Joseph could have taken advantage of the free labour of Jesus as a child to increase the family production of goods which consequently would have increased their wealth. It is obvious that this did not happen because the Holy Bible tells us that Jesus was well educated in the Scriptures. While the Lord Jesus may have spent time with Saint Joseph to learn the trade of carpentry, He also had to spend time with His mother who taught Him the Mosaic Laws as was the Jewish custom.

As the spouse to the Virgin Mary, where the two became one through marriage, Saint Joseph had the right to demand from his spouse the marital obligations to which he was entitled. But no, applying his spiritual mind in obedience to the Divine Will of God, through self-control, Saint Joseph took it upon himself to preserve the virginity of the Mother of God. Because Saint Joseph embraced the praiseworthy virtue of chastity during his marriage to the Virgin Mary, the Lord God blessed him and elevated him among the most popular saints.

Until now, most of what has been said has been in condemnation of the unacceptable practices of employers in their workplaces. But what about the employees? Are they all beyond reproach?

Are the employees practicing all the desirable qualities that an employer expects of them? Surely, loyalty and honesty stand in the forefront. An employer who pays the wages of his employees, does he not expect his employees to respect him versus bickering at everything all the time? Does he not expect them to work as a team versus causing division within the workplace? Does he not expect in the manufacturing of goods that his workers will produce quality versus defective material? And does he not expect his workers to give a day's work for a day's pay?

On the subject of honesty, does the employer not expect his employees to be honest? How often do we hear of someone helping himself to small little items such as the company's pencils and pens? Do you not know that taking a pencil from the workplace without permission from the business owner is theft? The employer has to replace this item! And what about when it comes to dealing with customers? Do the workers attend to the customers with integrity?

And let us not forget the sick leaves and the coffee breaks. Do the employees advise their workplace that they will not report for work because they are sick when in reality, they are not sick, but wish to use up their sick leaves? Is this not the abuse of a privilege provided by the employer? Do the employees stretch their 15 minute coffee breaks to 30 minutes? Are these practices, abusing sick leaves and coffee breaks, not stealing from the employer when one is being paid for time that has not been worked?

The message in what has been said until now is that if we remain faithful to the fruit of the Holy Spirit, [Gal. 5:22-3] God rewards us for our faithfulness. God is pleased with those who have the Spirit of love, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. God takes no pleasure in punishing those who are selfish, those who abuse or neglect their rights as employers or employees.

As Christians, we have an obligation to treat our brothers and sisters in Christ as true brothers and sisters. God did not create us in this world to be tyrants or thieves. He created us to love one another as Jesus loved us, to support one another, to encourage one another and to spiritually grow together. Then, one day, we will all rejoice in the eternal Kingdom of joy and peace that awaits all the faithful children of the Lord.

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The readings...

[The readings were taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (C) 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the United States of America.]

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First Reading...

"Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews. But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord.

News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And great many people were brought to the Lord.

Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called 'Christians.'" [Acts 11:19-26]

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Gospel Reading...

"At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, 'How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.'

Jesus answered, 'I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one.'" [Jn. 10:22-30]

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