Monday, May 1, 2023
Memorial of Saint Joseph wey Dey Work, wey No Be Must to Celebrate
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Jesus come di town wey E come from, come teach di people for their synagogue. Dem surprise well-well, come talk say, “Where dis man get dis kind wisdom and power to do mighty works? No be di carpenter pikin be dis?” Matthew 13:54–55
For December 8, 2020, Pope Francis announce say the celebration of the “Year of Saint Joseph” don start for the whole Church. E use one Apostolic Letter wey the title na “With a Father’s Heart” introduce this year. For the introduction to that letter, the Holy Father talk say, “Each of us fit find for Joseph—the man wey people no dey notice, wey dey present every day without drawing attention to himself—a person wey go pray for us, support us and guide us when trouble dey.”
The Gospel above, wey dem take from the readings for this memorial, point to the fact say Jesus na “the carpenter pikin.” Joseph na worker. E use im hand work as carpenter so that e go fit provide wetin the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Son of God need every day. E provide house, food and other things wey dem need for everyday life. Joseph also protect both of dem as e follow the different messages wey the angel of God give am for im dreams. Joseph carry out im duties for life quietly, without drawing attention to himself, as e serve as papa, husband and worker.
Even though today people everywhere for our Church know and honour Joseph, and dem even recognise am as one important person for world history, during im lifetime, e go don be person wey most people no notice. Dem go don see am as ordinary man wey dey do im ordinary duty. But for many ways, na dis very thing make Saint Joseph person wey good well-well for us to imitate and person wey fit inspire us. Na very few people God call to serve others where everybody go notice dem. Na very few people dey receive public praise for di duties wey dem dey do every day. Especially for parents, people often no dey appreciate all wetin dem dey do. Na why di life of Saint Joseph, dis humble and hidden life wey e live for Nazareth, dey inspire plenty people for their own daily life.
If your life dey somehow follow the same pattern every day, people no dey notice am or appreciate am, and e dey tire you or even bore you sometimes, then look to Saint Joseph to get encouragement. Today memorial dey especially honour Joseph as man wey work. And im work na ordinary work. But na especially inside the ordinary things wey we dey do every day we fit find holiness. To choose to serve day after day, with little or no praise from this world, na service of love, na to follow the example of Saint Joseph life, and na source of holiness for your own life. No look down on how important e be to serve for these ordinary ways wey people no dey notice, and for other ways like them.
Today, think deeply about the ordinary everyday life of Saint Joseph wey “no seem special.” If you see say your life resemble wetin e for experience as worker, husband and papa, then make you rejoice because of that. Rejoice say God don call you too to live life of extraordinary holiness through the ordinary duties of everyday life. Do those duties well. Do them with love. And make the example of Saint Joseph and im wife, the Blessed Virgin Mary, wey for share this ordinary everyday life with am, inspire you as you do them. Know say wetin you dey do each and every day, when you do am out of love and to serve other people, na the surest road for you to live holy life.
My Jesus, Son of di carpenter, I thank You for Your earthly papa, Saint Joseph, wey You give us as gift and wey dey inspire us. I thank You for im ordinary life wey e live with great love and sense of duty. Help me make I imitate im life by doing my daily duties of work and service well. Make I recognise for di life of Saint Joseph one fine example wey I fit follow to live my own holy life. Saint Joseph wey Dey Work, pray for us. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint for Today – Saint Joseph wey be Worker
Scripture Meditations for Easter Season
Pictures wey dey above: Saint Joseph wey be Worker, through flickr
