St.JOSEPH, THE WORKER (MAY DAY)

On the first of May, workers al lovers the world join hands to strengthen their unity and to celebrate their solidarity. And their solidarity, giving us a sense of honour and power, proclaims: Man is not worthy of his dignity if he does not soil his hands to earn his bread and there is no place for a lazy man who tries to enjoy through others’ labour. The message the workers announce seems to echo the victory song of Mary who sang: He raised the lowly and the rich he sent empty away. When we call Joseph the patron of workers, we mean to say that he worked with the spirit of Jesus as God wills man to work, i.e. making work a way to salvation, urged by the love of Mary and Jesus, and inspired by faith to fulfil God’s plan for him. Therefore, it is the spirit operative I the work of Joseph, that is a challenge to us today – his fidelity to work, his honesty in work, his responsibility in working for others, his unobtrusiveness. All this is an invitation to us to realize our dignity as workers and to find the meaning of God’s plan in our life.