St. Joseph the Worker

 

John 10:11-18

¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. ¹³ The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. ¹⁷ The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

We continue the theme of the Good Shepherd we began yesterday, but apply it to the Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker and Religious Brotherhood day.  St. Joseph, a carpenter, nevertheless shepherded his family with all his time and gifts, especially his quiet but powerful faith, accepting to marry the already pregnant Mary, traveling to Bethlehem and Egypt and settling to the life of a carpenter in Nazareth. His fidelity to his mission from God stands as a strong example to all, especially to those who work "by the sweat of their brows" to support their families.

Following his example, Religious Brothers quietly serve as other Josephs in education, health care, and obediently responding to needs in the Christian and growing non-Christian communities around the world.  Rarely in the headlines, Brothers follow the example of Joseph by putting themselves totally at the disposal of God, following Mary's simple instruction to the servers at Cana: "Do whatever he tells you." In so doing, we truly are Good Shepherds!

Bro. Rene

 Dear God, thank you for the example of St. Joseph and for the service and dedication of Religious Brothers. May we strive to be humble, obedient companions along side of them.