Monday May 1
Introduction
To the people of Nazareth, Jesus was known as the son of a laborer, the son of the carpenter. Yes, God’s Son born in a workman’s family, and like the young people of his time, presumably helping his father in the carpentry workshop. The readings of today also present human work as a cooperation with the creative act of God: we are stewards of creation, to whom God has entrusted the work of his hands. Let us work as stewards of one another and of God’s creation.
Opening Prayer
Creative God,
when by your word
you had accomplished your creation,
you entrusted it to people
whom you had created in your image
and you said: fill the earth and subdue it.
Fill us with your Spirit, Lord,
that we may preserve the beauty and order
of your magnificent creation
and that like St Joseph
we take up the task entrusted to us
of perfecting your creation
in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Reading 1: Gen 1:26—2:3 Let us make humankind in our image
Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, aand over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
Responsorial Psalm: 119:233-30 Blessed are they who follow the Law of the Lord!
Gospel: Mt13:54-58 Is not this the carpenter’s son?
At that time, He came to his hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor except in their own country and in their own house.” And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.
Intentions
As we celebrate St. Joseph today, let us being our intentions before the Lord.
– Lord, we pray you for your Church. Let it honor St Joseph, its patron, through a responsible and dedicated leadership, we pray:
– Lord, we pray you for those in public office, that they may lead their people with wisdom and justice, we pray:
– Lord, we pray you for heads of families, including single parents, that they may be dedicated to their children, we pray:
– Lord, we pray you for laborers who live by the work of their hands; may they do their work conscientiously and take pride in it, we pray:
– Lord, we pray you for ourselves. May we be people who know how to serve and to live in our presence, we pray:
– Lord, may the help of St Joseph help us all to serve you with love. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord God, here is bread,
like the bread earned by St Joseph
for the family of Nazareth.
Turn it into the bread of life,
your Son Jesus Christ.
that he may keep us going
to carry out the task you have entrusted to us.
Make us look at all work, however humble,
as ennobling us in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
St. Joseph served the Holy Family
by the work of his hands.
Whatever task you have entrusted to us,
help us to put our heart in it
and see in it a way to serve people
and to give praise and glory to your name
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
“Is this not the carpenter’s son?” Human, the son of simple parents who had to work with their hands to earn the food of every day. And Jesus with them. The creator earning his bread. May you honor and respect work, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
