01/05/2026
FRIDAY FOURTH WEEK OF EASTER
SAINT JOSEPH THE WORKER – MEMORIAL
Our Daily Bread with Rev. Fr. Peter Morba, SDB
First Reading: Genesis 1:26-2:3
Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:54-58
THEME: MY FATHER IS AT HIS WORK
Jesus said to the Jews, “To this very day my Father is at his work, and I too am working.” John 5:17
Today the Universal Church celebrates the feast of St. Joseph the worker. By this the church gives importance and dignity to human labour. Work is not a curse or evil, it is something we should cherish and do with love for the upliftment of human life.
In the first reading, we observe that God himself worked. Creation itself is an output of God’s creative work. We read that on the seventh day God finished his work which he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done. In other words, God worked through six days and rested on the seventh day.
The Gospel story shows that Joseph, the foster father of Jesus Christ on earth was a carpenter. In other words, he worked for a living, through which he catered for the needs of his family, comprising, Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Through the work of our hands, we can take care of ourselves and others.
Work is beautiful and it is part of God’s plan for the world. After God had created everything, he saw that all that he had created were very good. In this way we are invited to do good works, works that add beauty and goodness to the world.
We also should not allow our works to enslave us. We are the masters of the works we do and not their slaves. God created us in his own image and gave us dominion over all creatures, to be co-creators with him. Therefore, we must not allow our works to have dominion over us.
Our world, is experiencing danger of workaholism; that is to say, many of us are so much engrossed in our works that we have no time or respect for human beings around us, who are the image of God. We must not do any work that will have hazard effect on people around us, either spiritually, physically, emotionally, psychologically, socially, economically or environmental wise.
A good work is done towards the promotion of human dignity, love and wellbeing.
God bless you!
Happy New Month of May to you!!@
