We celebrate the feast of St. Joseph the Worker today. As a model father, husband and worker, let's look at the five ways St. Joseph can help us on our faith and life journey.

Joseph is considered to be just a regular, law-abiding Jew—an average Joe if you will. He didn’t go around Nazareth working miracles and polishing his halo; rather, he lived his holiness wrapped in simplicity. 

 

When we act simply, we take no heed of our glory but seek God’s alone. Such simplicity is a modesty of soul, guarding the intimacy we have with God.

On May 1, as we celebrate the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, we remember that he is a saint who knows how to roll up his sleeves and put in a hard day’s work. Lent is a good time to live out this dignity of work by imitating St. Joseph. God draws us to Himself through the ordinary means of simply fulfilling our tasks. We need not search for extraordinary acts of penance or lengthy prayers, especially if these detract from our normal duties. 

 

So before we add on extra practices, we should redouble our attentiveness to the work already before us. 

While Joseph shows us the dignity of work, he had some of his best moments as he slept. It was here that God spoke to him repeatedly through dreams. We can distinguish two types of rest: physical sleep and spiritual abandonment to God. Both are critical for holiness. Sleep renews us for another day of work and love. Just ask the mother of a newborn about the importance of sleep. Abandonment increases our hope in God’s loving providence, strengthening our faith in times of trials and creating room for love to grow.

By both sleep and abandonment, we recognize our limits: we need sleep and we need God.

Joseph’s holiness came through Jesus and Mary, by serving them and receiving from them. Similarly, God draws us to himself through those around us. We do not become saints as isolated individuals but as members of a family or community.

The Easter season is a good opportunity to examine our closest relationships. Is there a need to forgive? Is there love that needs rekindling? Is there gratitude missing? These are excellent ways of giving alms.  

Of course, Joseph’s family isn’t your normal family. There’s a special grace about Jesus and Mary (understatement of the year). If we compare our families to the Holy Family, we might be tempted to discouragement. But by God’s goodness, Jesus and Mary are not distant, but rather intimately close to us: Jesus is our savior and brother, and Mary is our tender mother. Joseph, for his part, can help us stay close to Jesus and Mary, just as he did.